

Class ~F7‘ ^ 

Book 

Gopyrigltt'N? 

COFYKIGHT DEPOSm 

GPO 


The Boy 

Fortune Hunters 


In Egypt 




/ ^,‘ •' • '• r • 

\- ' *45^! •‘:V' 

^ ‘ h r'.?'-;: :'‘W 


>7 










\ « 



* I 


1 ^ 


■ ’ - ‘ 










<1 



Kj, 

-MHQv'^:^ ' ' 2H 

• fc^r. •“ i . „? 

:’v wS^''-' ‘fii;f^’> "^>tif'* 'v* 

‘ '4 

- 'i • ., t * 

■l’^ * ■• 





^ jr"^ IV > ^ clV- •■ K . vV* 

if^^'^-'- 



■^r' Zih ■' 





Ships of the desert. 



The Boy 
ortune Hunters 
in Egypt 


By 

FLOYD AKERS 

Author of 

“The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama,” etc. 



CHICAGO 

THE REILLY & BRITTON CO. 
CHICAGO 






BOYS BOOKS BY FLOYD AKERS 


■ ofCONGHEfisJ 

: I wo CoDies Kecetvoc 


1 wo uoDies KeceivdC 

JUL 24 1808 



f Fortune Hunters 
in Alaska 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 
in Panama 

The Boy Fortune Hunters 
in Egypt 


Cloth 12 mos. Splendidly Illustrated. 
Price 6 o cents each. 



Copyright 1908 

BY 


THE REIEEY & BRITTON CO. 


a.s. 


LIST OF CHAPTERS 


N 



CHAPTER PAGE 

I The Runaway - -- -- -- 9 

II OuE Venture -------- 21 

III An Obstinate Passenger - - - . - 47 

IV A Riot and a Rescue ----- 65 

V The Professor's Secret - - - - 76 

VI The Treasure of the Ancients - 92 

VII A Great Undertaking 109 

VIII Gege-Merak 119 

IX Across the Black Mountains - - 135 

X Deep in the Desert Sands - - - 150 

XI Taking Chances ------ 167 

XII Abdul Hashim Explains - - - - 183 

XIII Prisoners 204 

XIV The Well of the Scorpions - - - 213 

XV Van Dorn Turns Traitor - - - - 222 

XVI The Mad Camel 233 

XVII [VA 242 

XVIII Ketti Proves a Friend - - - - 250 

XIX Lovelace Pasha 261 

XX The Khedive Takes the Last 

Trick — but One ----- 27§ 





/ 




% 





K 










f 


% 


} 


1 


N 



4 


) 


9 




\ 



CHAPTER I. 


THE RUNAWAY. 

I was Standing on the deck of the Seagull, 
looking over the rail and peering into the moon- 
light that flooded the bay where we lay at anchor, 
when the soft dip of an oar caught my ear. 

It was the softest dip in the world, stealthy as 
that of an Indian, and in the silence that reigned 
aboard ship I stood motionless, listening for a 
repetition of the sound. 

It came presently — the mere rustle of the drops 
as they slid off the oar’s blade — and a small boat 
stole from the shadows astern and crept to our 
side. 

I glanced along the rail and saw, a few paces 
away, the dim form of the watch, alert and vig- 
ilant; but the man knew I was there, and for- 
bore to hail the mysterious craft below. 

At a snail’s pace the boat glided along our side 
until it was just beneath me, when I could see a 
9 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

blot in the moonlight that resembled a human 
form. Then a voice, so gentle that it scarce rose 
above the breeze, called out: 

‘‘Ahoy, mate!” 

Now I ought to explain that all this was sur- 
prising; we were a simple, honest American 
merchant ship, lying in home waters and without 
an element of mystery in our entire outfit. On 
the neighboring shore of the harbor could be 
seen the skids from which the Seagull had been 
launched a month before, and every man and boy 
in Chelsea knew our history nearly as well as 
we did ourselves. 

But our midnight visitor had chosen to steal 
upon us in a manner as unaccountable as it was 
mysterious, and his hail I left unanswered while 
I walked to the landing steps and descended 
them until I stood upon the platform that hung 
just over the boat. 

And now I perceived that the tub — for it was 
little else — was more than half full of water, and 
that the gunwale rode scarce an inch above the 
smooth surface of the bay. The miserable thing 
was waterlogged and about to sink, yet its occu- 
10 


The Runaway 

pant sat half submerged in his little pool, as 
quiet and unconcerned as if no danger threat- 
ened. 

‘‘What's up?” I demanded, speaking rather 
sternly. 

The form half rose, the tub tipped and filled, 
and with a gentle splash both disappeared from 
view and left me staring at the eddies. I was 
about to call for help when the form bobbed up 
again and a hand shot out and grasped a rope 
dangling from the landing stage. I leaned over 
to assist, and the fellow scrambled up the line 
with remarkable agility until I was able to seize 
his collar and drag him, limp and dripping, to a 
place beside me. 

At this time I was just eighteen years of age 
and, I must confess, not so large in size as I 
longed to be; but the slender, bent form of the 
youth whom I had rescued was even of less 
stature than my own. As he faced me in the 
moonlight and gave a gasp to clear the water 
from his throat, I noted the thin, pinched features 
and the pair of large, dark eyes that gazed with 
pleading earnestness into my own. 

II 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“For Heaven’s sake, what are you up to?” , I 
asked, impatiently; “and how came you to be 
afloat in that miserable tub? It’s a wonder you 
didn’t sink long before you reached our side.” 

“So it is,” he replied in a low voice. “Are 
you — are you Sam Steele, sir?” 

“Yes.” 

“Ah! I hoped it would be you. Can I go 
aboard, sir? I want to talk to you.” 

I could not well have refused, unless I con- 
signed the fellow to the waters of the bay again. 
Moreover, there was a touching and eager appeal 
in the lad’s tones that I could not resist. I turned 
and climbed to the deck, and he followed me as 
silently as a shadow. Then, leaning against the 
rail, I inquired somewhat testily: 

“Couldn’t you wait until morning to pay me a 
visit? And hadn’t you enough sense to know 
that old dinghy wouldn’t float?” 

“But it did float, sir, until I got here; and 
that answered my purpose very well,” he replied. 
“I had to come at night to keep from being dis- 
covered and recaptured.” 


The Runaway 

“Oh! You’re a criminal, then. Eh?” 

“In a way, sir. I’m an escaped cabin-boy.” 

That made me laugh. I began to understand, 
and the knowledge served to relieve the strain 
and dissolve the uncanny effect of the incident. 
An escaped cabin-boy! Well, that was nothing 
very wonderful. 

“Here, come to my room and get some dry 
togs,” I said, turning abruptly to the gangway. 
The lad followed and we passed silently through 
the after-cabin, past the door of Uncle Naboth’s 
quarters — whence issued a series of stentorian 
snores — and so into my own spacious stateroom, 
where I lighted a lamp and carefully closed the 
door. 

“Now, then,” I exclaimed, pulling some of my 
old clothes from a locker, “slip on this toggery at 
once, so your teeth will stop chattering.” 

He discarded his dripping garments and re- 
placed them with my dry flannel shirt and blue 
trousers, my thick socks and low shoes. I picked 
up his own ragged clothes and with a snort of 
contempt for their bedraggled and threadbare 

13 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

condition tossed them out of the window into the 
sea. 

‘^Oh !” he exclaimed, and clutched at his breast. 

‘What’s the matter?” I asked. 

“Nothing. I thought at first you had thrown 
away mother’s picture; but it’s here, all right,” 
and he patted his breast tenderly. 

“Hungry?” I inquired. 

“Yes, sir.” He gave a shiver, as if he had just 
remembered this condition; and I brought some 
biscuits and a tin of sardines from my cupboard 
and placed them before him. 

The boy ate ravenously, washing down the food 
with a draught of water from the bottle in the 
rack. I waited for him to finish before I ques- 
tioned him. Then, motioning him to a seat on 
my bunk, for he seemed weak and still trembled 
a bit, I said : 

• “Now, tell me your story.” 

“I’m a Texan,” he replied, slowly, “and used 
to live in Galveston. My folks are dead and an 
uncle took care of me until a year ago, when he 
was shot in a riot. I didn’t mind that; he was 

14 


The Runaway 

never very good to me ; but when he was gone I 
had no home at all. So I shipped as a cabin-boy 
aboard the Gonzales, a tobacco sloop plying be- 
tween Galveston and Key West, for I always 
loved the sea and this was the best berth I could 
get. The Captain, Jose Marrow, is half Mex- 
ican and the cruelest man in the world. He 
whipped me when he was drunk, and abused and 
cuffed me when sober, and many a time I hoped 
he would kill me instead of keeping up the tor- 
tures I suffered. Finally he came up here with a 
cargo, and day before yesterday, just as he had 
unloaded and was about to sail again, he sent me 
ashore on an errand. Of course I skipped. I ran 
along the bay and hid in a lumber shed, from the 
top of which I could watch the Gonzales. She 
didn’t sail, because old Marrow was bound to 
have me back, I guess ; so I had to lay low, and 
all the time I was sure he’d find me in the end 
and get me back. The sloop’s in the bay yet, 
sir, only about a quarter of a mile away.” 

‘Well?” 

“Well, last evening a couple of men came to 

15 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

sort some of the timbers, and I lay hid on top the 
pile and listened to their talk. They spoke of the 
Seagull, and how it was to sail far away into the 
Mediterranean, and was the best built ship that 
ever left this port.’’ 

“That’s true enough, my lad.” 

“And they said Cap’n Steele was the best man 
to work for in the merchant service, and his son, 
Sam Steele — that’s you, sir — was bound to make 
as good a sailor as his dad, and had been in some 
queer adventures already, and was sure to find 
more of them before he was much older.” 

I had to smile at that evident “taffy,” and my 
smile left the boy embarrassed. He hesitated a 
moment, and then continued: 

“To a poor devil like me, sir, such a tale made 
me believe this ship a floating paradise. I’ve 
heard of captains who are not as cruel as old 
Marrow; so when the men had gone I decided 
to get to you in some way and beg you to take 
me aboard. You see, the, Mexican is waiting to 
hunt me down, and I’d die sooner than go back 
to his terrible ship. If you’ll take me with you, 
Mr. Steele, I’ll be faithful and true, and work 

i6 


The Runaway 

like a nigger for you. If you won’t, why, just 
say the word, and I’ll jump overboard again.” 

“Can you swim?” 

“No.” 

I thought a moment. 

“What’s your name?” I asked, finally. 

“Joe Herring.” 

“Well, Joe, you’re asking something unusual, 
I must say. I’m not the captain of the Seagull, 
but merely purser, or to be more exact the sec- 
retary to Mr. Perkins, the supercargo. I own a 
share in the ship, to be sure, and purchased it 
with money I made myself ; but that fact doesn’t 
count when we’re at sea, and Captain Steele is 
the last man in. the world to harbor a runaway 
member of the crew of a friendly ship. Indeed, 
your old master came aboard us this morning, to 
inquire about you, and I heard my father say 
that if he set eyes on you anywhere he’d let Cap- 
tain Marrow know. As he never breaks his 
word this promise is to be depended upon. Do 
you see, now, what a fix you’re in?” 

“I do, sir.” 

His voice was low and despondent and he 

17 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

seemed to shrink back in his seat into an attitude 
hopeless and helpless. 

I looked at the boy more closely, and the ap- 
peal in his pinched features, that had struck me 
at the first glance on the landing stage, became 
more impressive than ever. 

“How old are you, Joe?” 

“Fifteen, sir.” 

He was tall, but miserably thin. His brown 
hair, now wet and clinging about his face, curled 
naturally and was thick and of fine texture, 
while his dark eyes were handsome enough to be 
set in the face of a girl. This, with a certain 
manly dignity that shone through his pitiful ex- 
pression, decided me to befriend the lad, and I 
had an inspiration even in that first hour of meet- 
ing that Joe Herring would prove a loyal fol- 
lower and a faithful friend. 

“We sail at ten o’clock, and it’s now past mid- 
night,” I remarked, thoughtfully 

“Yes, sir; I’ll go any time you say.” ^ 

“But you can’t swim, Joe.” 

“Never mind. Don’t let me be a bother to you. 
You’ll want to turn in,” casting a wistful look 

i8 


The Runaway 

around my pleasant room, ‘‘and so Fll find my 
way on deck and you needn’t give me another 
thought.” 

“Very good,” said I, nodding. “I think I’ll 
turn in this minute.” 

He rose up, slowly. 

“Just climb into that upper berth, Joe, and go 
to sleep. There’ll be work for you tomorrow, 
and you’ll need to get rested.” 

He stared into my smiling face a moment with 
a startled look that soon became radiant. Then 
he broke down and cried like a baby. 

“Here, no snivelling!” I growled, savagely. 
“Pile into that berth ; but see you get your shoes 
off, first.” 

He obeyed, still blubbering but evidently strug- 
gling to restrain his sobs. Indeed, his privations 
of the past two days, half starved and hunted like 
a dog, had completely unnerved the poor fellow. 
When he had tumbled into the berth I locked the 
door, put out the light, and rolled myself in my 
own blanket. 

A few moments later I heard Joe stirring. He 
leaned over the edge of the bunk and murmured : 

19 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“God bless you, Sam Steele ! Fll never forget, 
sir, the way you 

“Oh, shut up and go to sleep, Joe,’’ I cried. 
“You’ve kept me awake long enough already.” 
“Yes, sir.” And after that he was silent. 


20 


CHAPTER II. 


OUR VENTURE. 

Those who were present at the launching of 
our beautiful new Seagull were unanimous in de- 
claring her the trimmest, daintiest, most graceful 
craft that had ever yet floated in the waters of 
old Chelsea bay. Her color was pure white, her 
brass work brilliant as gold. She was yacht built, 
on the lines of the fast express boats, and no ex- 
pense had been spared in her construction or 
fittings. 

My father. Captain Steele, one of the ablest 
and best known sailors on the Atlantic coast, had 
personally supervised the building of the Seagull 
and watched every step of progress and inspected 
every bit of timber, steel, or brass, so that noth- 
ing might be slighted in any way. She was one 
hundred and eighty-seven feet in length, with a 
thirty-six foot beam and a depth of twenty-one 
feet, and her net tonnage was close to fourteen 


21 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

hundred. We had her schooner rigged, because 
Captain Steele believed in sailing and had de- 
signed his ship for a merchantman of the highest 
class, but of the old school. 

Uncle Naboth and I, who were also part own- 
ers of the ship — ^the firm being Steele, Perkins & 
Steele — had begged earnestly to convert her in- 
to a modern steamer; but my father angrily re- 
sented the suggestion. 

‘‘Her name's the Seagull*' he declared, “an' a 
seagull without wings 'ud be a doggone jack- 
rabbit ; so wings she mus' have, my lads, ef Dick 
Steele's goin' to sail her." 

We had really put a fortune into the craft, and 
Uncle Naboth — a shrewd old trader who marked 
the world as it moved and tried to keep pace with 
it — was as anxious to have the ship modern in 
every respect as I was. So we stood stubbornly 
side by side and argued with the Captain until he 
finally granted a partial concession to our wishes 
and consented to our installing an auxiliary 
equipment of a screw propeller driven by power- 
ful engines, with the express understanding that 
they must only be used in case of emergency. 


22 


Our Venture 


“It’s a rank waste o’ money, an’ takes up 
vallyble room,” he growled; “but ef so be you 
ain’t satisfied with decent spars an’ riggin,’ why, 
git your blarsted ol’ machinery aboard — an’ be 
hanged to ye both!” 

This consent was obtained soon after my re- 
turn from Panama, but Uncle Naboth and I had 
ordered the engines months previously, having 
been determined to install them from the day the 
Seagull was first planned ; so no time was lost in 
getting them placed. 

You will know the Seagull more intimately as 
my story progresses, so I will avoid a detailed de- 
scription of it just now, merely adding that the 
ship was at once the envy and admiration of all 
beholders and the pride and joy of her three 
owners. 

My father had sailed for forty years and had 
at one time lost his right leg in a shipwreck, so 
that he stumped around with a cork substitute. 
But he was as energetic and active as in his youth, 
and his vast experience fully justified his reputa- 
tion as one of the ablest and shrewdest seamen in 
the merchant service. Indeed, Captain Steele was 

23 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

universally known and respected, and I had good 
reason to be proud of the bluff old salt who owned 
me as his son. He had prejudices, it is true, ac- 
quired through many strange adventures at sea 
and in foreign parts; but his heart was simple 
and frank as that of a child, and we who knew 
him best and loved him well had little fear of his 
stubborn temperament. 

Naboth Perkins, my dead mother’s brother, 
was also a remarkable man in his way. He knew 
the sea as well as did my father, but prided him- 
self on the fact that he ‘‘couldn’t navigate a 
ferry-boat,” having always sailed as supercargo 
and devoted his talents to trading. He had been 
one of my earliest and most faithful friends, and 
although I was still a mere boy at the time the 
Seagull was launched, I had encountered some 
unusual adventures in company with quaint, hon- 
est Uncle Naboth, and won certain bits of prize 
money that had proved the foundation of our 
fortunes. 

These prize-winnings, converted into hard 
cash, had furnished the funds for building our 
new ship, in which we purposed beginning a con- 
24 


Our Venture 


servative, staid career as American merchant- 
men, leaving adventures behind us and confining 
ourselves to carrying from port to port such mer- 
chandise as might be consigned to our care. You 
will hear how well our modest intention was 
fulfilled. 

The huge proportions and staunch construction 
of the Seagull would enable her to sail in any 
known sea with perfect safety, and long before 
she was completed we were besieged with pro- 
posals from shippers anxious to secure our 
services. 

Uncle Naboth, who handled all such matters 
for our firm, finally contracted with a big Ger- 
mantown manufacturer of “Oriental” rugs to 
carry a load of bales to Syria, consigned to mer- 
chants there who would distribute them through- 
out Persia, Turkey and Egypt, to be sold to 
American and European tourists and carried to 
their homes as treasures of Oriental looms. 

It was not so much the liberal payment we 
received as the fact that the long voyage to the 
Syrian port would give us an opportunity of test- 
ing the performances of the Seagull that induced 

25 


The Boy Fortune 

Mr. Perkins to accept the contrac ake 

the lengthy voyage. 

‘If she skims the Atlantic an-" iter- 

ranean all right/’ said he, “the K ather 

any sea on earth; so we may as well find out at 
the start what she’s good for. ’Sides that, we’re 
gittin’ a thunderin’ price fer cartin’ them rags to 
Syria, an’ so the deal seems a good one all 
’round.” 

My father gravely approved the transaction. 
He also was eager to test the powers of our 
beautiful new ship, and this would not be his first 
voyage to the Orient, by any means. So the 
papers were made out and signed and as soon as 
our last fittings and furnishings were installed 
and our crew aboard we were to voyage down the 
coast in sunny September weather and anchor in 
the Chesapeake, there to load our cargo. 

Our ship’s company had been carefully se- 
lected, for the fame of my father’s new vessel 
and the popularity of the Captain himself at- 
tracted to us the best seamen available; so we 
had the satisfaction of signing a splendid com- 
pany of experienced men. In addition to these 
26 


Our Venture 


sailors we shipped a first and second eng. 
clever young fellows that became instantly un^ ^ 
ular with my father, who glared at the poor 
‘‘mechanics” as if he considered them interlopers, 
if not rank traitors. Some of the seamen, it was 
arranged, would act as stokers if the engines 
were called into requisition, so with the addition 
of a couple of oilers who were also carpenter's 
assistants we were satisfied we might at any 
time steam or sail, as the occasion demanded. 

I am sure Captain Steele had already acknowl- 
edged in his heart that we were justified in 
equipping the Seagull with engines, since any old 
salt fully realizes the horror of being becalmed 
and knows the loss such a misfortune is sure to 
entail in time, wages, and grub. But he would 
not admit it. Instead, he persisted in playing the 
part of a much injured and greatly scandalized 
seaman. It would be time enough to “take 
water” when the value of the propeller was fully 
proved. 

Ned Britton was Captain's Mate, of course. 
Ned had sailed with my father for years; he had 
also sailed two exciting voyages with Uncle Na- 
27 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

both and me, and we all admired and respected 
this strong, gallant fellow as much as we had 
come to trust in his ability. 

Two other curious characters were established 
fixtures of any craft that the firm of Steele, Per- 
kins & Steele might own. These were two stal- 
wart black men named Nux and Bryonia, South 
Sea Islanders whom Uncle Naboth had rescued 
from death years before and attached to his 
service. Since then they had become my own 
trusted friends, and more than once had I owed 
my life to their intelligence and faithfulness. 
Bryonia, or Bry, as we called him, was a famous 
cook, and always had charge of our ship’s galley. 
With Bry aboard we were never in want of a sub- 
stantial, well cooked meal ; for, as Uncle Naboth 
was wont to declare: ‘Thet Bry could take a 
rope’s end an’ a bit o’ tarpaulin an’ make a Paris 
tubble-de-hoot out’n ’em.” 

Nux was cabin steward and looked after our 
comforts aft with a deftness and skill that were 
wholly admirable. These blacks were both of 
them shrewd, loyal, and brave, and we knew we 
might always depend upon their fidelity. 

28 


Our Venture 


On the morning following my adoption of Joe 
Herring I left the runaway locked up in my state- 
room and went on deck to watch the final prep- 
arations for our departure. A fair breeze swept 
down the bay, so at ten o’clock we hoisted anchor, 
spread our main and foresails and, slowly gather- 
ing way, the Seagull slipped through the water on 
her maiden trip amid the shouts of hundreds who 
stood on the shore to watch and bid us God 
speed. 

We fired a shot from our small howitzer as a 
parting salute to our friends, dipped our pennants 
in gallant fashion, showed our heels, and sped 
away so swiftly that the harbor was soon left far 
behind. 

We passed the old Gonzales soon after leaving 
our anchorage. It was still waiting to recapture 
its absconding cabin-boy, though why Captain 
Marrow should attach so much importance to the 
youth I could not then understand. 

As soon as we were' well at sea I liberated Joe 
and told him he was to be my special servant and 
assistant, but must also help Nux to look after 
the cabin during his spare time — which was likely 
29 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

to be plentiful enough. Knowing that the sooner 
I established the lad's footing aboard the easier 
it would be for us both, I sent him on an errand 
that would take him past my father's station on 
the deck. His sharp eye encountered the boy at 
once, as I had expected, and he promptly roared 
out an order for him to halt. 

Joe stopped and saluted respectfully. He was 
looking cheery and bright this morning ; indeed, 
a different boy from the one I had pulled from 
the sinking dinghy the night before. Life bore a 
new aspect for Joe and his heart was light as a 
feather. He looked honest and wholesome 
enough in the fresh blue suit I had given him, and 
he had been duly warned that his only remaining 
danger lay in not winning the countenance of 
the skipper. 

‘‘Who are you ? 'N' where 'n' thunder 'd you 
come from?” demanded Captain Steele. 

“Joe Herring, sir. Master Sam’s assistant, 
sir,” answered the boy, in his quiet tones. 

“Assistant ! Bungs an' barnacles ! Assistant to 
Sam! What doin’? Loafin' an' a-killin’ time?” 

“I beg to refer you to Master Sam, sir,” was 

30 


Our Venture 


the composed answer, although from where I 
watched the scene I could see that Joe was badly 
frightened. 

‘‘What Sam needs is suthin' to do, more ’n a 
grub-devourin’ assistant,” pursued my father, 
sternly. “Look here ; did my son lug you 
aboard ?” 

“He did, sir,” replied Joe, truthfully. 

“Send him to me, then,” ordered my father. 

I stepped forward at once, saluting the Cap- 
tain with my usual deference. When we were 
at sea I had been taught to put by the fact that 
this was my father, bearing in mind only the 
immediate fact that he was my commander. Still, 
in my capacity as secretary to Uncle Naboth I 
was in a measure independent of ship’s discipline. 

“What tricks are you up to now, Sam?” de- 
manded the Captain, scowling at me. 

“Father, this boy was the runaway from the 
Gonzales, whom Captain Marrow has been seek- 
ing so earnestly. He was so abused by the dirty 
Mexican that he would rather die than return to 
his slavery. . So he threw himself on my mercy, 
and knowing he would surely be retaken if I left 

31 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

him ashore, I brought the lad with us. Don’t 
blame him, sir. I’ll take all the responsibility.” 

The Captain stared at me a moment. 

‘‘See that you do, then,” he grumbled. “Sam, 
it’s a illegal an’ unperfessional act to harbor a 
runaway.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Usually no good ever comes of it.” 

“He’s an honest lad, sir.” 

The Captain eyed him closely. 

“It’s no affair o’ mine,” he muttered, half turn- 
ing away. “The boy belongs now to the Perkins 
outfit, mind you. I’ll have no runaways ner 
stowaways in my crew.” 

I knew then the battle was won, and that my 
father would refuse to surrender Joe to his old 
captain under any circumstances. The “Perkins 
outfit,” so sneeringly referred to, meant Uncle 
Naboth and myself, and although it was evident 
the mission of the Seagull was dependent on the 
“Perkins outfit” to manage and arrange its com- 
merce in a profitable manner, it pleased my father 
to denominate us landlubbers and consider us of 
“no ’count” in the sailing of the ship. 

32 


Our Venture 


Unde Naboth wasn’t aboard yet. He had 
gone by rail some days before to Philadelphia to 
attend to the business of our cargo, and it was 
not until we anchored in the placid waters of the 
Chesapeake that my uncle appeared, smiling and 
cheery as ever. 

Mr. Perkins was short and stout, with a round, 
chubby face, smoothly shaven, and a circle of 
iron-gray locks around his bald head. His eyes 
were small, light blue and twinkling ; his expres- 
sion simple and childlike; his speech inelegant 
and with a humorous twist that rendered him an 
agreeable companion. But as a trader Naboth 
Perkins was famed far and wide; his shrewd- 
ness was proverbial; his talent for bargaining 
fairly marvelous; his honesty undisputed. I 
have heard merchants say it was a pleasure to 
pay Mr. Perkins his demands, even though they 
could procure the same service elsewhere at less 
cost. For he was square as a die, faithful to the 
smallest detail, and his word was absolutely to 
be relied upon. The little old gentleman was 
known as a money-maker, and had been the part- 
33 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

ner of my father, his brother-in-law, for many 
years. 

Such a character could not fail to be eccentric, 
and Uncle Naboth’s ways were at time puzzling; 
but I knew he was devoted to me, since he had 
proved this quality many times; and I naturally 
regarded my whimsical uncle with great affec- 
tion. 

When Mr. Perkins came aboard he announced 
that the bales of rugs were all on the dock and 
ready to load without delay. I was much inter- 
ested in our queer cargo, for it seemed strange to 
me that Americans should ship ‘‘Oriental” rugs 
to the Orient, to be purchased there by Amer- 
icans and brought back home again. But Uncle 
Naboth, who had been through the mills at Ger- 
mantown, explained the matter very clearly. 

“You see,” he said, “there ain’t enough 
genooine Oriental rugs left to supply the demand, 
now thet they’ve got to be sich a fad with rich 
people. When the Orient was fust diskivered 
there was a good many rugs there, but it had 
took years to make each one of ’em, an’ some was 
so old they had holes wore in ’em ; but that made 
34 


Our Venture 

’em the more vallyble ’cause it proved they was 
antiques. They picked ’em up fast, an’ the 
Orientals was glad to sell ’em an’ say nothin’. 
Ev’ry tourist thet goes to the East wants to buy 
rugs to send home, an’ he’ll pay ’most any price 
that’s asked fer rare ol’ patterns an’ dim, washed- 
out colors. Ef there’s a few holes, badly mended, 
so much the better, fer they proves the rugs is 
old. So the clever Easterners an’ the cleverer 
Yankees hit on a scheme to supply the demand, 
an’ here in Germantown they makes thousands 
of rare ol’ Oriental rugs every year. They buy 
a few genooine ones to copy the patterns from, 
an’ they weave ’em by machinery. Then the new 
rugs is put into a machine that beats dust an’ dirt 
into ’em an’ beats it out again, till the new, fresh 
colors gits old an’ faded. After this they’re run 
through a rubbin’ machine that wears ’em down 
some an’ makes a few holes, here an’ there; an’ 
then the menders take ’em an’ darn the holes. In 
about a day’s time one o’ them rugs goes through 
about as much wear an’ tear by machinery as it 
would get in centuries of use; an’ fer my part I 
can’t tell the diff’rence atween a genooine Ori- 
35 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

ental an’ a imitation one. We’ve got a whole 
cargo to take to Syria, an’ in a few months 
they’ll mostly come back agin, an’ be laid on the 
floors of our millionaires. Queer traffic, ain’t it, 
Sam? But if you stops to think, there’s been 
enough Oriental rugs carted out’n the Orient, in 
the last hundred years, to carpet most of Asia 
an’ Africa with ; so it stands to reason they ain’t 
all the real thing. If it wasn’t fer Yankee in- 
genooity an’ Oriental trickery the supply ’d been 
exhausted years ago, an’ our people ’d hev to 
carpet their floors with honest, fresh rugs instead 
o’ these machine worn imitations. That would 
break their hearts, wouldn’t it ?” 

But Uncle Naboth had arranged also to carry 
another queer line of merchandise on our voyage, 
consisting of several large cases consigned by a 
Connecticut manufacturer. These contained imi- 
tations of ancient Egyptian scarabs (a sort of 
mud beetle considered sacred by the old sun-wor- 
shippers), and a collection of funeral figures, tiny 
household gods and other articles supposed to be 
found only in the tombs of the primitive kings 
and nobles of Egypt. 

36 


Our Venture 


‘The Egyptian gov’ment/’ explained Uncle 
Naboth, “won't let any more genooine relics be 
taken out’n the country, 'cause they wants 'em 
all fer the Cairo Museum; so the Yankees hev 
come to the front agin, an' made mud relics by 
the bushel, so's the eager tourists can buy what 
they wants to bring home an' prove they've been 
there. These cases o' goods is consigned to mer- 
chants in Luxor, a little town up the Nile, an' 
I've agreed to run over to Alexandria, after we've 
unloaded our Syrian rugs, an' dump the rubbish 
on the dock there. There ain't many cases of it, 
but the profits is so big that we get well paid for 
the job." 

“But how did these wares get to Philadelphia 
from Connecticut?" asked my father. 

“Oh, I've been correspondin' with ol' Ackley, 
the Yankee that makes 'em, fer some time," said 
my uncle, “but I couldn't tell how much room 
the rugs would take up until I got here. When 
I found I could stow the Egyptian rubbish, I tel- 
egraphed to Ackley an' the consignment got here 
by freight yesterday. But that ain't the worst 
of it, partners." 


37 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“What is the worst?’’ I inquired. 

“Why, the Yankee manufacturer has sent me 
his beloved son, with a letter askin’ me to carry 
him with us to Egypt, so’s he can study the coun- 
try an’ find out what ancient relics they need 
supplied in large quantities, an’ collect from the 
dealers fer this first batch.” 

“We don’t take passengers,” said my father, 
sharply. 

“So I said; but the young duffer is here, an’ 
won’t take no fer an answer. He says he’s willin 
to pay fer his passage, an’ his dad wants him to 
keep an eye on them precious modern antiquities 
as we’re to carry. So I’ve put the case up to you, 
an’ you can decide it.” 

“It’s none o’ my business, Naboth,” said my 
father, turning away with a frown ; “I don’t like 
passengers, but you an’ Sam can do as you please. 
Only, if you take him, keep him out o’ my way.” 

Uncle winked at me, and I knew the passenger 
would be booked. 

Work of loading the cargo progressed rapidly, 
and in two days the bales of rugs were all aboard 
and carefully stowed in our dry and ample hold. 

38 


Our Venture 


Then the Yankee antiques for Egypt appeared 
for loading, and with them came a youth whose 
appearance caused me to smile involuntarily. 

‘‘Archibald Ackley, Jr., Middletown, Conn.,” 
his cards read. He was a stocky, well built fel- 
low about seventeen years of age, although he 
evidently wished to appear much older. He had 
sharp gray eyes, lanky hair of light tow color, im- 
mense hands and feet, a swaggering gait, and a 
style of dress gay enough to rival the plumage 
of a bird-of-paradise. 

Archibald’s features might have been handsome 
originally, but a swiftly pitched base-ball had 
once ruthlessly pushed his generous nose against 
his left cheek, and there it had remained. 

The youth sported a heavy watchchain that 
was palpably plated, a big “diamond” on his 
cravat that perhaps came from the famous “Bar- 
rios mines,” of New York, and his fingers were 
loaded with rings of vast proportions set with 
doubtful gems. It may be Mr. Ackley, Jr., imag- 
ined himself an exquisite, and sought to impress 
people by a display of wealth that may have cost 
him or his father several dollars ; but, as I said^ 
39 


The , Boy Fortune Hunters 

my first glimpse of his gorgeous person caused 
me to smile — an impertinence I quickly tried to 
repress. 

Mr. Perkins and I considered carefully the 
young man’s request for a passage to Egypt, and 
as we had ample accommodations we decided to 
take him along; but when he came for his an- 
swer and I caught sight of him for the first time, 
I almost regretted our decision. 

Uncle Naboth, however, seemed not to be dis- 
agreeably impressed. He shook the boy’s hand — 
it was a “flipper,” all right — with cordial greet- 
ing and said to him : 

“Very good, Archie, my lad; we’ve talked it 
over an’ you can go ’long ef so be you want to. 
But remember this is a merchantman, an’ no pas- 
senger ship, an’ make up your mind to abide by 
Cap’n Steele’s rules an’ reggleations.” 

“That’s fair,” said the boy, evidently pleased. 
“I’m not likely to bother any one. All I want is 
a berth to sleep in and three square meals a day. 
How’s the feed?” 

“Why, we have hearty appetites, ourselves, my 
lad, an’ there’s no call for you to starve as I 
40 


Our Venture 


knows on,” with a wink at me. You’ll eat at 
our table an’ have the best the ship affords.” 

‘‘That’s what I want,” said Archie, nodding 
his bullet head; “there’s nothing too good for 
me. What’s the price for the passage?” 

I told him. 

“That’s a pretty steep figure,” he rejoined, un- 
easily. “I can take an ocean liner for about the 
same cost.” 

“It is your privilege, sir,” I said, stiffly. “We 
don’t want passengers; so we don’t want you. 
But Mr. Perkins is disposed to accommodate you 
because your father is one of our shippers. Go or 
stay, as you like ; but make up your mind quick- 
ly, for we sail at seven.” 

He scowled first at me and then at uncle ; but 
presently he grinned. 

“I haven’t a choice,” said he, carelessly. “Pop’s 
paying the shot, for he wants me to keep an eye 
on the scarabs and things and see the goods safe 
landed and the money collected for them. They’re 
shipped to a lot of dirty Arabs who can’t be 
trusted. So here’s your money, and I’ll mail the 
receipt for the passage to Pop before we skate 

41 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

away, so he’ll know it’s you who are robbing him 
instead of me.” 

I felt like punching the cad’s nose, but Uncle 
Naboth laughed good naturedly and nodded ap- 
proval. 

“That’s businesslike an’ to the point,” said he. 
“Take the money, Sam, and give our passenger 
the proper receipt.” 

I did so, and Archibald Ackley, Jr., stalked 
away down the dock to fetch his baggage from 
the hotel. 

To my surprise the Gonzales made the harbor 
that afternoon and anchored alongside us. I 
promptly hid the trembling Joe in my cabin and 
locked him up; it proved a wise action because 
Captain Marrow lost no time in boarding us and 
asking for an interview with Captain Steele. 

This made me nervous, for I knew my father 
would not lie under any circumstances, and I 
dreaded the result of the ugly Mexican’s visit. 
So I stood beside my father to make every pos- 
sible endeavor to save my protege from recapture. 

“Cap’n Steele, sir, where’s my cabin-boy^” 
43 


Our Venture 


asked Marrow, gruffly, as he came up and touched 
his cap. 

My father looked him over yrith grave atten- 
tion. 

‘^Cap^n Marrow,’’ he replied, sternly, ‘‘where’s 
that calf that broke out’n my ten-acre lot three 
year ago come next Sunday?” 

Marrow muttered a curse and glared at us 
evilly. 

“I happen to know, Steele, that my boy Joe, 
who was tryin’ to vamoose, stole a rotten dinghy 
an’ rowed out to the Seagull the night afore you 
sailed. Ain’t thet so?” 

“Mebbe,” said my father. 

“Then I demand him in the name o’ the law, 
an’ I’ll hold you here in the bay till you give me 
back the stolen goods,” continued Marrow, 
savagely. 

“Ned,” said my father, turning quietly to his 
brawny mate, “show Cap’n Marrow over the 
side, an’ if he’s too slow in goin’, toss him over- 
board.” 

“Aye, aye, sir,” returned Ned, pleasantly. 

“I’ll hev the law, remember! You can’t sail 

43 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

from the harbor till you've given up my prop- 
erty!" roared the exasperated Mexican. 

‘‘Mebbe," repeated my father, again, as he 
turned indifferently away. 

But I saw trouble brewing and resolved to head 
it off. 

‘‘Captain Marrow," I said, politely, with a mo- 
tion to Ned to delay his intention, for the mate's 
hand was lifted to seize the fellow in his ter- 
rible grip, “please allow me to explain this case. 
A boy — perhaps it was your runaway — did in- 
deed board us at Chelsea, as you say; but my 
father. Captain Steele, did not discover his pres- 
ence until we were at sea. Then we were obliged 
to carry him on here, where he was put upon the 
dock. I assure you I saw him bolt for the land as 
fast as he could go." 

This was true in fact, as I had sent Joe on an 
errand. I did not relate, of course, that the boy 
had quickly returned, but my tale seemed to im- 
press Marrow and explain why Captain Steele 
had so recklessly sneered at his demands, as if 
wilfully defying the marine law. “If you make 
haste, sir," I continued, very courteously, “you 
44 


Our Venture 


may still be able to lay hands on the boy, who I 
am sure has no money to take him any distance 
from Philadelphia.” 

Marrow looked at me shrewdly. 

“Did Joe say anything about me, or about 
money?” he asked. 

“Not a word, sir,” answering the last ques- 
tion. “But I advise you to make haste. And 
you must forgive Captain Steele for his abrupt 
answers, caused by what he considered the inso- 
lence of your demand and the knowledge that 
you are in the wrong in threatening to hold his 
ship. You know, sir, it would cost you heavily 
to do this, when the court found you were un- 
able to prove your case.” 

This argument decided the man. He swore a 
nasty oath and stamped his foot in futile rage; 
but he at once left the ship to be rowed ashore, 
and that was the last we saw of him. 

Still I wondered at his interest in the miser- 
able, half starved boy he had so wickedly abused ; 
and I wondered at his strange question about 
money. There must be some mystery about Joe. 

At seven o’clock, all being snugly stowed and 

45 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

the last of our fresh provisions taken aboard, we 
hoisted anchor and headed out toward the mouth 
of the bay. Our passenger had settled himself in 
a spare cabin an hour before, having brought with 
him two huge ‘‘telescopes’’ that appeared to con- 
tain all his belongings. 

I did not let Joe out of his confinement until 
about midnight, and when from the swish of the 
water against our sides I knew we had reached 
the open sea. 


46 


CHAPTER III. 


AN OBSTINATE PASSENGER. 

It is useless to relate the unimportant incidents 
of our voyage to Gibraltar and up the Mediter- 
ranean. The Seagull behaved beautifully in both 
good and bad weather, amply fulfilling our most 
ardent expectations. It is true the voyage was 
unnecessarily long, since with our powerful en- 
gines we could have cut down our time to less 
than one-half; but we were obliged to concede 
this to Captain Steele’s prejudice in favor of 
sailing, and the breeze held so steady and per- 
sistent that we cut the waves like a clipper and 
made a most remarkable sailing record for the 
voyage. 

It was not until we passed Sicily that the Sea- 
gull was required to prove her staunchness. The 
waves at the lower end of the Mediterranean 
were wilder than any I had ever before encoun- 
tered, but our beauty rode them like a swan and 
47 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

never a seam spread nor a beam so much as 
creaked. 

The voyage, however, served to make us better 
acquainted with both our boy passenger and my 
boy assistant — the rich man’s son and the run- 
away Joseph — though this acquaintance was not 
ripened without some interesting experiences. 

A more willing or grateful follower no one 
could have than Joe Herring. The kindly treat- 
ment accorded him was in such sharp contrast to 
the dog’s life he had led aboard the Gonzales that 
he was anxious to show his appreciation on every 
possible occasion. His dark eyes followed me 
affectionately wherever I went, and he would 
leap quickly to anticipate my every order. Also 
he liked to serve Uncle Naboth and my father, 
and proved so considerate of their wishes and 
comforts that he soon won their hearts complete- 
ly. Nor was Joe so frail as he seemed at first 
glance. His muscles were hard as iron and on 
occasion his thin frame developed remarkable 
strength. This he proved conclusively within the 
first week of the voyage, as you shall hear. 

Our young passenger, whose imposing name 
48 


An Obstinate Passenger 

we had quickly shortened to plain “Archie/’ 
seemed likely to cause us unsuspected trouble. 
He at once developed two bad habits. The first 
was to sit on deck, lolling in a folding deck chair 
he had brought aboard, and play distressing tunes 
upon a harmonica — which he termed a “mouth- 
organ.” The lad must have had a most power- 
ful inherent love for music to enable him to listen 
to his own awful strains; but it was clear his 
musical talent was not developed, or at least not 
properly educated to any artistic degree. 

The first morning out the Captain, forced to 
listen to this “music,” scowled and muttered 
under his breath but forbore to interfere with the 
passenger’s evident enjoyment of his own per- 
formance. The second morning he yelled at 
Archie to “shut up!” but the boy calmly disre- 
garded the order. The third morning my father 
stumped over to where I sat and ordered me to 
take away Archie’s “blamed ol’ Jew’s-harp” and 
fling it overboard. 

I had myself been considerably annoyed by the 
wretched music, so I obeyed so far as to stroll 
49 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

over to our passenger and ask him to kindly dis- 
continue his performance. 

He looked up resentfully. 

‘This is the passenger's deck, ain’t it?” he de- 
manded. 

“We have no passenger’s deck; but we allow 
you to sit here,” I replied. 

“Then leave me alone, and mind your own 
business,” he retorted. “I’m a free born Amer- 
ican citizen, and I’ve paid my passage and can 
do as I please.” 

“But you can’t annoy everybody with that 
beastly music while you’re aboard the Seagull/* 
I answered, rather nettled at his attitude. “We 
also have rights, sir, and they must be consid- 
ered.” 

“I’ve paid for mine,” he said. “You get out, 
Sam Steele. I know what I’m doing,” and he 
commenced to play again. 

I looked at him reflectively. Just how to 
handle such a situation puzzled me. But Joe 
stood just behind and had heard all. With a 
bound of amazing quickness he was upon the un- 
prepared Archie, seized the mouth-organ from 

50 


An Obstinate Passenger 

his grasp and flung the instrument of torture far 
over the side. 

“Beg your pardon, sir, I’m sure,” he said, with 
a grin. 

Archie whistled softly and looked his assailant 
over. He rose slowly from his chair and, still 
whistling, began to unbutton his coat and take 
it off. He folded it neatly, laid it in the chair, 
removed his linen cuffs and placed them beside 
his coat, and proceeded deliberately to roll up his 
sleeves. 

The youth’s intentions were so obvious that I 
was about to order Joe to go below, as his slight 
figure seemed no match for the burly Archie, 
when a pleading look in the boy’s eyes restrained 
me. 

Uncle Naboth and Ned Britton, who had been 
promenading the deck near, had noted the inci- 
dent and now paused to see its outcome. Some 
of the sailors also were interested, from their dis- 
tant posts, while my father stood on the bridge 
and looked at our little group with an amused 
smile lighting his rugged face. 

Altogether it would not do to retreat in face 

51 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

of the coming fray, or to interfere with the log- 
ical outcome of Joe’s rash act. The Yankee boy’s 
face was white and set, and his soft whistle only 
rendered his bull-headed determination to exact 
revenge the more impressive. 

Having rolled up his sleeves, doubled his great 
fists and swung his arms once or twice to ease his 
muscles, Archie advanced steadily upon poor Joe, 
who stood listlessly with his hands thrust in his 
coat pockets and his head and shoulders bent 
slightly forward, in his accustomed pose. 

“That mouth-organ cost two dollars,” said 
Archie, grimly, “and you don’t look as if you’re 
worth two cents. So I’ll just take it out o’ your 
hide, my son, to teach you a lesson.” 

With that he paused and swung his right fist 
upward, and Joe, roused to action at last, gave a 
sudden bound. My eye could scarcely follow him 
as he leapt at Archie, embracing him and clinging 
to his antagonist like a vise. To my astonish- 
ment, the bulky Yankee swung around, tottered 
and fell heavily upon his back, with Joe kneeling 
triumphant upon his breast. 

We all gave an admiring cheer, for we could 

52 


An Obstinate Passenger 

not help it, and at the sound Joe arose and stood 
in his place again, meekly as before. 

Archie got up more slowly, feeling the back of 
his head, which had whacked against the deck. 
He made a sudden rush and a lunge with his 
fist that might have settled Joe had he not dodged 
and closed again on his adversary with the same 
lightning tactics he had at first employed. They 
fell in a heap, and although Archie tried to keep 
Joe hugged to his breast the latter slid away like 
an eel and a moment after was on his feet and 
had assumed his careless, waiting pose. 

When the Yankee got up this time he was 
again softly whistling. Without a glance at his 
late antagonist he deliberately rolled down his 
sleeves, attached his cuffs and resumed his coat. 
Then he walked over to Joe and with a smile that 
showed more good nature than chagrin he held 
out his bulky hand. 

‘‘Shake, sonny,’' said he. “You’re good stuff, 
and I forgive you everything. Let’s be chums, 
Joe. If I could have landed on your jaw I’d 
have mashed you like a turnip ; but you wouldn’t 
let me, and so I’m bound to give in gracefully.” 

53 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

That speech was the best thing the boy had 
done, and my original dislike for him began to 
evaporate. Joe shook the proffered hand cor- 
dially, and my father, who had come down to 
join our group, gave Archie an admiring buffet 
on the shoulder and said : ‘‘You’ll do, my lad.” 

But after all Joe was the hero of the occasion, 
and we all loved him for the clever and skillful 
fight he had put up. Archie was an expert boxer, 
as we afterward discovered, but Joe’s talent for 
wrestling gave him a decided advantage in a 
rough-and-tumble encounter. 

At luncheon we were all in a hearty good 
humor, but imagine my dismay to hear shortly 
afterward the strains of a mouth-organ coming 
from the deck! I ran up at once, and there sat 
Master Archie in his chair, blowing furiously 
into an instrument fully three inches longer than 
the one Joe had tossed overboird. 

I laughed; I could not help it; and even my 
father’s face wore an amused smile. Joe looked 
at me inquiringly, but I shook my head and re- 
treated te my cabin. Such a queer condition of 
mutiny deserved careful thought. 

54 


An Obstinate Passenger 


But, as I said, Archie had another bad habit. 
He smoked cigarettes in his stateroom, which was 
against our most positive rules. The first time 
we observed from the deck thin smoke curling 
through the open window of Archie’s cabin, a 
hasty investigation was made and the cause 
speedily discovered. The boy was lying in his 
berth, reading a novel and coolly puffing his 
cigarette. 

Uncle Naboth sent tor the passenger and 
gravely informed him he’d have to quit smoking 
cigarettes in his cabin. 

‘‘On deck it don’t matter so much,” added my 
uncle, “though a decent pipe is a more manly 
smoke, to my notion. But we’ve put a furtun’ 
into our new ship, an’ can’t afford to take chances 
of burnin’ her up on the first voyage. Cigarettes 
are dangerous. If you throw a lighted stub into 
a corner we may go up in smoke and perhaps 
lose many vallyble human lives. So we can’t al- 
low it, young man. Smoke yer paper cigars on 
deck, ef ye want to; but don’t light another in 
yer cabin.” 


55 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Archie made no promise. He listened to my 
uncle’s lecture, and walked away without a word. 

An hour later I saw smoke coming through the 
window again, and peering through the aperture 
discovered Archie lying in his bunk, calmly 
smoking. The boy was exasperatingly stubborn. 
I called black Nux and gave him an order. With 
a pleased grin the South Sea Islander brought a 
length of fire hose, attached it to a plug in the 
sruppers and carried the nozzle to Archie’s win- 
dow. Presently we heard a yell as the powerful 
stream struck the smoker and completely deluged 
him. He leapt from his berth, only to be struck 
full in the face by the water from the hose, which 
sent him reeling against the door. I shut off the 
water, and Nux, kneeling at the low window, 
looked down on the discomfitted Archie and ex- 
claimed : 

“Goodness sake. Mars Ackley! were dat on’y 
you-uns? Thought it were a fire, sure thing. 
Beg pard’n. Mars Ackley!” 

After the boy changed his drenched clothing 
for dry he came on deck and stalked around in 
silent anger while Nux went to the cabin and 

56 


An Obstinate Passenger 


cleared it of the water and wet bedding. I won- 
dered if the lesson would be effective, but could 
not judge a nature that was so unlike any I had 
ever before encountered. 

Bye-and-bye Archie calmed down sufficiently 
to drop into his deck chair and begin playing his 
mouth-organ. He wailed out the most distressing 
attempts at tunes for an entire hour, eyeing de- 
fiantly any who chanced to look toward him ; but 
we took care not to pay the slightest attention 
to his impertinence. Joe came to me once with 
a pleading look in his eye, but I shook my head 
sternly. The sailors were evidently amused by 
our little comedy forward, for I could see them 
exchanging smiles now and then when a screech 
more blood-curdling than usual came from the 
mouth-organ. 

Archie tired himself out in time and went be- 
low. He closed and locked his window and began 
again to smoke in his cabin. In half an hour 
the smoke was so thick in the little room that we 
could see nothing but its gray clouds through the 
thick pane. 

The set frown upon my father's face told me 

57 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

trouble was brewing for our passenger, but as yet 
the Captain forbore to interfere. Uncle Naboth 
came to me indignant and angry and demanded 
to know what should be done to the ‘*young pig” 
whose actions were so insolent and annoying. 

“Let me think,” I replied, gravely. “We must 
certainly conquer young Ackley in some way, 
even if we have to toss him overboard; but I 
hope it will not come to that.” 

“Then think quick an' to the point, Sam,” re- 
joined my uncle; “for Fm jest achin' to wollop 
the fool wi' a cat-o'-nine-tails.” 

At dinner Archie joined our table, silent but 
with a sneering and triumphant look upon his 
face. He was not handsome at any time, but just 
now his damaged face was positively disagreeable 
to behold. It occurred to me that the trouble 
with the young fellow was that he had not been 
taught to obey, and doubtless he imagined we 
were his enemies because we were endeavoring to 
prevent him from doing exactly what he wanted 
to. His idea of being a “free-born American 
citizen” was to be able to override the rights and 
privileges of others, and the sooner he got that 

58 


An Obstinate Passenger 


notion out of his head the better it would be for 
him. 

Archie was a deliberate eater and remained at 
the table with a sort of bravado because we took 
not the slightest notice of him. So I left him 
finishing his meal when I went on deck. 

A few minutes afterward, however, he came 
bounding up the companionway with a white face 
and rushed up to where Uncle Naboth and I were 
standing. 

‘‘Fve been robbed!’' he cried, shaking his big 
fist at me. “My cabin’s been entered by a thief, 
and I’ll have the law on you all if you don’t re- 
store my property 1” 

“What have you lost ?” I inquired. 

“You know well enough, Sam Steele. I’ve lost 
all my cigarettes — ev’ry box of ’em! — and my 
four mouth-organs, too. They picked the lock 
on my door, and opened my telescopes, and stole 
my property.” 

“How’s this, Sam?” inquired Uncle Naboth, 
his eyes twinkling. 

“I don’t know, sir,” I answered, greatly sur- 
prised. “There are no duplicate keys to the cabin 
59 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

doors, and Ackley had his in his pocket, I sup- 
pose/' 

“They picked the lock, I tell you, and the locks 
on both my traveling cases," declared the boy, in 
a rage; “and you must be a fine bunch of prac- 
ticed thieves, because they were all locked again 
after the goods were stolen." 

“How about your window ?" I asked. 

“I left it bolted on the inside. No one could 
enter that way." 

“Did you lose anything except the cigarettes 
and the mouth-organs?" I continued, beginning 
to be greatly amused. 

“No; but those things are my property, and 
you or your people have stolen them. Look here, 
Sam Steele," he added, coming close and shaking 
his fist threateningly; “either you return my 
property in double quick time or Fll take it out 
of your hide. Just make your choice, for I mean 
business." 

I think he saw that I was not afraid of him, but 
I chose to ignore his challenge. I was neither as 
clever a wrestler as Joe Herring nor as expert 
with my fists as Archie Ackley; so it would be 
6q 


An Obstinate Passenger 


folly for me to undertake a personal encounter. 
But I said, quietly enough : 

“You are getting insolent, my lad, and inso- 
lence I will not stand for. Unless you control 
your temper I will order you to the ship’s lockup, 
and there you shall stay until we drop anchor 
again.” 

He gazed into my face long and steadily, and 
then began to whistle softly as he turned and 
walked away. But a few moments later he re- 
turned and said: 

“Who’s going to make good my loss ?” 

“Send me your bill,” replied Uncle Naboth. 
“I’ll pay it.” 

“I think Joe stole the things,” continued 
Archie. 

I called Joe to us. 

“Did you enter Ackley’s cabin and take his cig- 
arettes and mouth-organs?” Uncle Naboth in- 
quired. 

“No,” said Joe, looking at Archie and laughing 
at his angry expression. 

“Do you know who did it?” persisted my 
Uncle. 

6i 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

‘‘No,” said Joe, again. 

“He’s lying!” cried Archie, indignantly. 

“Are you lying, Joe?” I asked, gently. 

“Yes, sir,” returned Joe, touching his cap. 

“Then tell the truth,” said I. 

“I won’t, sir,” replied the boy, firmly. “If you 
question me. I’m bound to lie; so it will be better 
to let me alone.” 

This answer surprised and annoyed me, but 
Uncle Naboth laughed aloud, and to my astonish- 
ment Archie frankly joined him, without a trace 
of his recent ill-nature. 

“Just as I thought,” he observed. “You’re a 
slick one, Joe.” 

“I try to do my duty,” answered Joe, modestly. 

“Bring me your bill, young feller,” said Uncle 
Naboth, “and I’ll cash it in a jiffy — an’ with joy, 
too. I don’t see jest how Joe managed the affair, 
but he’s saved us all a lot of trouble, an’ I’m much 
obleeged to him, fer my part.” And the old 
gentleman walked away with a cheerful nod. 

“Uncle’s right,” I said to Archie. “You 
wouldn’t be reasonable, you know, and we were 
simply obliged to maintain our ship’s discipline. 

62 


An Obstinate Passenger 

So, if your offending goods hadn't been ab^ 
stracted so cleverly, there would have been open 
war by another day and our side was the 
strongest." 

Archie nodded forgivingly toward Joe. 

‘Terhaps it was best," he admitted, with more 
generosity than I had expected from him. “You 
see, Steele, I won’t be bulldozed or browbeaten 
by a lot of cheap skates who happen to own a 
ship, for I’m an independent American citizen. 
So I had to hold out as long as I could." 

“You were wrong in that," I remarked. 

“Right or wrong, I’ll hold my own." 

“That’s a bad philosophy, Archie. When you 
took passage aboard this ship you made yourself 
subject to our rules and regulations, and in all 
honesty you’re bound to abide by them. A true 
American shows his independence best by uphold- 
ing the laws of his country." 

“That’s rot," growled Archie, but Joe and I 
both laughed at him because he could find noth- 
ing better to say. When he returned to his deck 
chair the passenger’s face bore its normal expres- 
sion of placid good nature. It was evident he 

63 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

prided himself on the fact that he had not ‘‘given 
in” of his own accord, and perhaps he was glad 
that the force of circumstances alone had con- 
quered his stubborn temper. 


64 


CHAPTER IV. 


A RIOT AND A RESCUE. 

After that we had little trouble with Archie 
Ackley, although in many ways the stubborn na- 
ture of the boy was unpleasantly evident. In his 
better moods he was an agreeable companion, but 
neither Joe nor I, the only two other boys aboard, 
sought his society more than was necessary. My 
uncle and the Captain both declared there was a 
heap of good in the lad, and a few such lessons 
as the one he had received would make a man 
of him. 

Joe I found a treasure in many ways, and al- 
ways a faithful friend. Since that first night 
when he had come aboard he had nothing to tell 
of his past history or experiences ; but his nature 
was quick and observant and I could see he had 
picked up somewhere a considerable fund of 
worldly knowledge which he could draw upon as 
occasion offered. 


65 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

My father, Uncle Naboth, and I were all three 
delighted with the Seagull's sailing perform- 
ances, though secretly I longed to discover how 
she would behave under steam, since her propeller 
had never been in use since the day it was given 
a brief trial test in Chelsea Bay. Tomlinson, the 
engineer, assured me we could make from six- 
teen to eighteen knots when the engines were 
working, and the man was naturally as impatient 
as I was to test their full powers. Still, we real- 
ized that we must wait, and Captain Steele was 
so delighted with the superb sailing qualities of 
the ship that even I had not the heart to suggest 
supplanting his white wings with black smoke 
from our funnels. 

In due time we crossed the stormy Mediter- 
ranean and reached in safety our Syrian port, 
where we unloaded the rugs and delivered them 
in good condition to the consignees. We sailed 
along the coast, past Port Said, and finally came 
to the Bay of Alexandria, where we were to un- 
load Ackley’s cases of ‘‘modern antiques” and get 
rid of our passenger. 

It was a new experience to me to find myself on 
66 


A Riot and a Rescue 


the historic shores of Egypt, anchored before the 
famous city founded by Alexander the Great. I 
begged Uncle Naboth to take me ashore; over- 
hearing my request Archie Ackley invited us all 
— with an air of great condescension — to dine 
with him at the Royal Khedivial Hotel. 

My father refused. He was too fond of the 
Seagull to leave her alone in a foreign port; but 
Ned Britton took his place, and the four of us — 
Archie, Uncle Naboth, the Mate and I — followed 
by our faithful blacks, Nux and Bryonia, dis- 
embarked on the quay and walked up the long, 
foreign-looking streets to the big hotel. 

It was a queer sensation to find ourselves mov- 
ing amidst a throng of long-robed turbaned 
Arabs; fez-topped Turks, with Frenchmen, and 
Syrians ; gray-bearded, stooping Jews ; blind beg- 
gars; red-coated English soldiers, and shrinxing, 
veiled Moslem women. 

‘‘What a mess of foreigners,'' cried Archie, 
and Uncle Naboth, with a laugh, reminded him 
that we were the foreigners and this curiously 
mixed crowd, the natives. 

We dined in sumptuous style at the handsome 

67 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

hotel, for Archie proved a liberal host and feasted 
us royally. It was late at night when we re- 
traced our steps toward the quay ; but the streets 
of the city were still thronged with people, many 
of whom were sitting at little tables placed on 
the sidewalks, where they smoked and drank 
Turkish coffee and chatted together in a very 
babel of tongues. 

As we left the heart of Alexandria and drew 
near to the water-front the streets became more 
deserted and the lights were fewer and dimmer. 
There were still straggling groups here and there, 
and suddenly, as we turned a corner, we observed 
a commotion just ahead of us and heard a terri- 
fied voice cry out: 

“Help — Americans — help 

Ned Britton gave a bound and was in the thick 
of the melee at once. Archie was only a step 
behind him and I saw his big fists swinging right 
and left in fast and furious fashion, while Joe 
ducked his head and tossed a tall Arab over his 
shoulder with marvelous ease. Nux and Bryonia 
took a hand, and while none of our party was 
armed, the free use of their terrible fists wrought 
68 


A Riot and a Rescue 


such havoc among the long-gowned Arabs that 
the result of the skirmish was not long in doubt. 
Like a mist they faded away and escaped into 
the night, leaving a little man wriggling and 
moaning upon the ground as if in deathly agony. 
I held fast to my left arm, which had been 
slashed by a knife and was bleeding profusely, 
while I stared around in surprise at our easy vic- 
tory. Uncle Naboth had not taken part in the 
fray, but now appeared seated calmly upon the 
prostrate form of the Arab whom Joe had van- 
quished, and his two hundred and odd pounds 
rendered the prisoner fairly secure. 

Our blacks raised the little man to his feet, 
where he ceased squirming but stood weakly lean- 
ing against Nux and trembling like a leaf. 

“Are you hurt, sir?’’ asked Ned. 

The stranger shook his head. It was so dark in 
this spot that we could not distinguish his 
features very clearly. 

“I — I think not,” he gasped. “But they nearly 
had me, that time. If you hadn’t come up as you 
did, I-— I ” 


69 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

He broke off abruptly and leaned over to peer 
at the Arab Uncle Naboth was sitting upon. 

“That’s him! That’s Abdul Hashim himself! 
Kill him — kill him quick, some one !” he yelled, in 
a sudden frenzy. 

The cry seemed to rouse the Arab to life. Like 
an eel he twisted, and Uncle Naboth slid off his 
back and bumped upon the sidewalk. The next 
moment we Americans were alone, for Abdul 
Hashim had saved his bacon by vanishing in- 
stantly. 

“Oh, why — why did you let him go?” wailed 
the little man, covering his face with his hands. 
“He’ll get me again, some day — he’s sure to get 
me again!” 

“Never mind that,” said Ned, gruffly, for we 
were all disgusted at this exhibition of the fel- 
low’s unmanly weakness. “You can thank God 
you’re out of his clutches this time.” 

“I do, sir — I do, indeed !” was the reply. “But 
don’t leave me just now, I beg of you.” 

We looked at Uncle Naboth for advice. Bry 
had slit my sleeve with his pocketknife and was 
binding a handkerchief tightly around my wound, 
70 


A Riot and a Rescue 


for he was something of a surgeon as well as a 
cook. 

“We’re going aboard our ship,” said my uncle, 
shortly. “You’re welcome to come along, my 
man, an’ stay till mornin’.” 

The stranger accepted the invitation with alac- 
rity and we started again for the quay, which was 
reached without farther incident. Our boat was 
waiting and we were soon rowed where the Sea- 
gull was anchored and climbed aboard. 

Under the clear light of the cabin lamp we 
looked at the person we had rescued with natu- 
ral curiosity, to find a slender man, with stooping 
shoulders, a red Van Dyke beard, bald head and 
small eyes covered with big spectacles. He was 
about forty years of age, wore European clothes 
somewhat threadbare and faded in color, and his 
general appearance was one of seedy respect- 
ability. 

“Gentlemen,” said he, sitting in an easy chair 
and facing the attentive group before him, “I am 
Professor Peter Pericles Van Dorn, of the Uni- 
versity of Milwaukee.” 

I had never heard of such a university; but 

7 ^ 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

then, Milwaukee is a good way inland. Neither 
had any of us before heard the name so 
unctuously announced ; though we were too polite 
to say so, and merely nodded. 

“It will please me,’’ continued the Professor, 
“to be informed of your station and the business 
that has brought you to Egypt.” 

My uncle laughed and looked at me quizzically, 
as if inviting me to satisfy the stranger. Captain 
Steele scowled, resenting the implied imperti- 
nence. The only others present were Archie and 
Ned Britton. 

I told Van Dorn we were a merchant ship from 
Boston, and had casually touched at the port of 
Alexandria to unload some wares belonging to 
Mr. Ackley, who was going to ship his property to 
Luxor and deliver it to merchants there. 

“What sort of wares ?” demanded the stranger. 

“Scarabs, funeral figures, and copies of antique 
jewelry,” replied Archie, a bit uneasily. 

“The curse of the country,” snapped the little 
man, scornfully. “There ought to be a law to 
prevent such rubbish being shipped into Egypt — 
except,” pausing to continue with a touch of bit- 
72 


A Riot and a Rescue 

terness, ‘'that there are too many laws in this 
beastly country already.” 

“The poor tourists must have scarabs to take 
home with them,” said Archie, with a grin. 
“About fifteen thousand travelers come to Egypt 
every year, and your Khedive won’t let any gen- 
uine scarabs leave Egypt.” 

“Don’t call him my Khedive, sir!” cried the 
little professor. “I detest — I hate the govern- 
ment here, and everything connected with it. 
But you are not interested in that. Gentlemen,” 
assuming a pompous tone, “I am glad to meet 
you. You have arrived in the very nick of time 
to save me from assassination, or at least from 
utter failure in my great work. I am sure it was 
an All-wise Providence that directed you to stop 
at Alexandria.” 

“Disguised as old Ackley’s mud scarabs,” 
added my uncle, dryly. 

“And what are your future plans?” inquired 
the Professor, eagerly. 

“To return to America at once,” I replied. 

“No! A thousand times no!” shouted little 
Van Dorn, banging his fist on the table, “I char- 
73 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

ter you from this minute. I engage this ship — 
at your own price — to transport me and my 
treasure to New York!” 

‘Treasure!” we exclaimed, incredulously. 

The Professor glanced around and lowered 
his voice. 

“The greatest treasure, gentlemen, that has 
ever been discovered in Egypt. I have found the 
place where the priests of Karnak and Luxor hid 
their vast wealth at the invasion of Cambyses 
the Persian.” 

He paused impressively. My father looked 
at his watch and Uncle Naboth yawned. For 
myself, I should have liked to hear more, but my 
wound was paining me and Bry awaited my 
coming to dress it properly. So I said to our 
guest : 

“If you please. Professor, we will hear your 
story in the morning. It is now late, and we are 
all longing for our berths. So we will bid you 
good-night and wish you pleasant dreams.” 

He glared at me indignantly. 

“Can you sleep after what I have told you?” 
he demanded. 


74 


A Riot and a Rescue 


hope so, sir,” I replied, and turned away to 
call Joe to show the man to his room. He made 
no farther protest, but going away and looking 
rather thoughtful. 

Bry found that the knife had merely inflicted a 
flesh wound on my arm, and promised it would 
give me little trouble. The bleeding had stopped, 
so my black surgeon washed the cut thoroughly, 
bandaged and plastered it quite professionally, 
and sent me to bed to sleep soundly until morn- 
ing. 

Really, I forgot all about the Professor, who 
looked the part of a savant much better than he 
acted it, it seemed to me. 


75 


CHAPTER V. 


THE professor’s SECRET. 

At breakfast Professor Van Dorn was silent 
and preoccupied, and as soon as the meal was 
over asked for a private interview with the per- 
son in authority aboard the Seagull, We went 
to the Captain’s room, a large cabin where all 
could be comfortably seated. None of us had 
much confidence in the stranger’s romantic asser- 
tions of the night before, but we were all curious 
to know what tale the man had to relate, and 
were disposed to listen. Archie’s eyes bunged 
out so far from his round face that I took pity on 
the boy and asked him to join us. Ned Britton 
came, too, for he had been present at Van Dorn’s 
rescue and we trusted him implicitly. 

When we were seated and the Professor had 
assured himself we could not be overheard, he 
at once asked permission to relate the business 
that had brought him to Egypt and the strange 
76 


The Professor’s Secret 


experiences he had encountered here. We told 
him to fire away and we would hear his story. 

“Gentlemen,” said he, “you must know that I 
hold the honorable chair of Egyptology in my 
university. Since my youth I have studied ardu- 
ously the history of this most ancient people, 
from whom sprung the modern civilization of 
which we boast today.” He spoke pedantically, 
and I began to think he might be a real professor, 
after all. “To perfect my studies my college 
generously sent me here, three years ago, and 
soon after my arrival I became acquainted with 
Professor John Lovelace, whose famous works 
on ancient Egypt you have doubtless read.” 

We had not read them, but we let the assertion 
pass. 

“Over here,” continued the narrator, “he was 
usually called Lovelace Pasha, but he was not 
entitled to the distinction except in the imagina- 
tion of the natives, who had a high respect for 
his intelligence and industry. At the time we 
met Lovelace he was searching diligently but 
secretly for a vast treasure, and he took me into 
his confidence and engaged me to assist him, 
77 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

You must know that in the sixth century before 
Christ Egypt was at its height of wealth and 
greatness ; and the most important treasures were 
at that time in the possession of the priests of 
the great temple of Karnak. They consisted of 
wonderful gems, countless jewels and ornaments 
of gold and silver and, above all, a library of 
papyrus rolls relating the history of Egypt dur- 
ing that now unknown period between the sixth 
and twelfth dynasties. 

“At this time, when the Egyptians had grown 
as proud and insolent as they were wealthy, that 
terrible Persian, Cambyses, invaded the country 
with a conquering host and steadily advanced 
up the Nile toward Karnak and Thebes, laying 
waste the country as he came and despoiling the 
temples of their wealth. The legends say that 
the priests of Karnak, terror stricken, threw all 
their treasure into the Sacred Lake which adjoins 
their temple, in order to keep it from falling into 
the hands of the invader ; and, as the lake is bot- 
tomless, the treasure has never yet been recov- 
ered. 

“Now, sirs. Professor Lovelace, a shrewd and 

78 


The Professor’s Secret 


far-seeing man, doubted the truth of this story. 
It was an undeniable fact that the great treasure 
of Karnak was hidden somewhere by the priests, 
and that Cambyses put all the holy men to the 
sword because they would not reveal their secret. 
Also it is historical that the treasure has not since 
been discovered, and that the conqueror was un- 
able to lay hands upon it after all his efforts to 
do so. During the centuries that have passed the 
Sacred Lake has been dragged many times, with 
the hope of finding the immense wealth of Kar- 
nak; but it is now known that the quicksands at 
the bottom of the lake would have swallowed it 
up instantly, so naturally all these attempts have 
proved absolute failures. 

“My friend Lovelace, pondering on this queer 
story, came to believe that the wily priests had 
never thrown their treasure into the lake at all. 
No one knew better than they that to place it 
there was to lose it forever; furthermore, the 
most valuable part of the treasure consisted of 
the historic papyri — the bark rolls on which the 
ancient Egyptians inscribed their records. To 
place these in water would W to destroy them; 
79 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

thus the falsity of the tale was evident. It was 
clear, my friend decided, that the priests had 
hidden the treasure somewhere in the desert, near 
Karnak, where the shifting sands would leave no 
evidence of the place to betray it to the keen eyes 
of the Persian. But they spread the report that 
it had been cast into the lake, so if any traitor 
might be among the people the truth would not 
be revealed. 

‘‘Since Cambyses put every priest of Karnak 
to death, in his unreasoning anger, there was 
none to recover the treasure when the Persian 
was gone home again, from which Professor 
Lovelace conjectured that it still lay secure in its 
original hiding-place. 

“But where was that hiding place? That was 
the question to be solved. For years he sought in 
the desert without success but with rare patience, 
and at just about the time I arrived in Egypt he 
obtained a clue to guide him. 

“On one of the ruined temple walls, hidden 
away in an unimportant corner, is carved a dia- 
gram which to an ordinary observer appeared to 
mean nothing at all. But Lovelace studied it 
8o 


The Professor’s Secret 


and came to the conclusion that the diagram de- 
scribed the spot where the treasure was hidden. 
There was a picture of a high arch, called in 
Egypt a pylon; and through this picture, from 
one corner diagonally across to another corner, 
a line was chiseled. This line extended far be- 
yond the pylon, past a group of three pictured 
palm trees, and then ended in a cross. Do you 
follow me, gentlemen?’' with an eager, nervous 
glance into our faces. 

Uncle Naboth nodded, but he looked bewil- 
dered. Archie’s face wore a perfectly blank ex- 
pression. My father was smoking placidly and 
looking out of the cabin window. Said I : 

‘‘We are not very familiar with Egyptian his- 
tory, Professor; but I think we catch the drift 
of your story. Pay out the cable, sir, and we’ll 
grasp what we can of it.” 

He seemed relieved, saying: 

“Very well, my boy. Egyptian history is very 
fascinating, but this is neither the time nor the 
place for me to instruct you in it. Still, it is 
necessary that you understand something of the 
importance of the proposition I am going to 

8i 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

make you, and I will be as clear as possible in my 
descriptions. The arch, or pylon, referred to 
in the picture, had three square towers, to dis- 
tinguish it from many others, and after search- 
ing long among the ruins of Karnak, which cover 
many acres, Lovelace Pasha and I found one 
which, though partly demolished, still had one 
of the characteristic towers left, with traces of 
the others. Taking these as our guide we drew 
an imaginary line from corner to corner, as in 
the diagram, and taking our compass we started 
out to follow this imaginary line across the 
desert. Three miles away we found, to our great 
joy, the group of palms, very ancient, without 
doubt, but still standing, and near to these was 
a small oasis watered by a tiny spring. 

^The question now remaining was, how far 
beyond the three palms was the point marked on 
the diagram by the cross — the point where the 
treasure had been buried? We were obliged to 
work very cautiously, for at this oasis lived a 
small but fierce tribe of desert Arabs having for 
their shiek, or ruler, one Abdul Hashim — the 
same devil who nearly murdered me last night. 

82 


The Professor’s Secret 


The Arabs were curious to know what we were 
after, for they are great thieves and often steal 
the contents of an ancient tomb after some lucky 
excavator has discovered it. So we kept our 
secret from them, until finally they became so 
angry that they would have driven us away from 
their neighborhood had not Professor Lovelace 
secured an order from the Khedive granting him 
the privilege of excavating and exploring in cer- 
tain sections of the desert for relics of Egypt's 
ancient civilization. The Khedive will always 
grant these licenses, permitting the explorer to 
work at his own expense in the interests of sci- 
ence; but when a discovery has been made the 
laws oblige us to give or sell everything to the 
National Museum at Cairo, where they pay only 
the most insignificant prices because there is no 
other legal way in which one may dispose of 
ancient treasure or relics. 

‘‘But that absurd law did not concern us at 
the time ; what we were eager for was to discover 
the hidden treasure of Karnak, and to avoid the 
hostile Arabs we worked mostly during the clear 
moonlit nights, when all the tribe were asleep. 

83 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

We had sand-augers made, with which we 
burrowed into the sand to the foundation of rock 
underneath, striving to find some obstruction to 
indicate where the treasure was buried. By- 
means of our compass we were enabled to follow a 
straight line, and we worked slowly and carefully 
for a distance of five miles beyond the oasis, and 
then back again, without any definite result. 
Sometimes we would strike an obstruction and 
dig down only to find a point of rock or a loose 
boulder, and the task seemed to me, after a few 
months, to be endless and impracticable. But 
Lovelace would not give up. He was positive he 
was on the right track, and when I declared I 
had had enough of the job and was going back 
to Cairo, he became suspicious of me, and threat- 
ened to kill me if I deserted him. 

‘This was my first suspicion that his mind had 
become unbalanced. 

“ ‘You know too much. Van Dorn, to be 
permitted to go away and blab my secrets to 
others,’ he said. I assured him I should keep a 
closed mouth, but the fellow was so crazy over 
his idea that he would not trust me. He was a 
84 


The Professor's Secret 


big man, determined and masterful, and I had to 
obey him whether I wanted to or not. I stuck 
to the search, though I became afraid of my 
companion. 

‘Well, sirs, not to bother you with details 
which are to you unimportant, I will say that 
finally, after more than two years of patient 
search, we chanced upon the treasure. My auger 
one day stuck in the sand and could not be 
withdrawn. Digging down we found that the 
point had plunged into a bronze ring and become 
fast. Lovelace gave a howl of joy at sight of 
the ring, for he knew then that our search was 
ended. 

“It was after midnight, with bright stars 
shining down to light us as we worked. We 
cleared away the sand to the depth of more than 
four feet, and found the ring, duly attached to 
a large block of granite that rested on the rock 
foundation.” 

“Is there a layer of rock under the desert 
sands, then?” I inquired. 

“Yes; in this section of the country,” was the 
answer. “Archeologists will tell you that origin- 
85 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

ally the earth was covered by a vast table-land of 
solid rock such as we now call sandstone. The 
erosion of wind and weather caused bits of this 
rock to crumble. The simoons caught them and 
whirled them around, breaking off other particles 
of rock and crumbling them into sand. As ages 
passed the sand increased in volume, until now 
the desert is covered with it to a depth of from 
two to six feet, and sometimes even more. Often 
thp winds blow this sand into billows, leaving the 
bare table-land of rock to be seen stretching for 
miles and miles. 

“But to return to my story. The block of 
granite was heavy, measuring three by six feet 
on the surface and being more than two feet in 
thickness. Three bronze rings were imbedded 
in it, but pry and lift as we would we could not 
budge the huge stone an inch. It was evident 
that we must have help, so we covered up the 
stone again, marked the spot carefully, and went 
back to the Arab village. 

“Next morning Lovelace bargained with the 
sheik, Abdul Hashim, for the use of two of his 
men to assist us. Also we were obliged to send 
86 


The Professor’s Secret 


to Luxor for four stout staves to use as levers. 
You may well imagine that all this excited the 
wonder of the Arabs, and I doubted if Lovelace 
would be able to keep his secret from them. 
However, he appeared to attach no importance 
to this danger, and the next evening we set out 
for our buried stone, accompanied by our assist- 
ants bearing the oaken staves. We quickly dug 
away the sand and cleared the stone, and then 
we four used the levers together and by straining 
our muscles to the utmost managed to lift the 
huge slab of granite until it stood on edge. 

“Underneath was a rock cavity, carefully 
chiseled out by hand, and at first we saw only a 
mass of dried reeds brought from the Nile bank. 
Removing these we came upon heavy layers of 
rotted cloth, of the kind that was once used in 
Egypt for wrapping mummies. But after this 
padding was dragged away the treasure became 
visible and Lovelace’s hands shook with excite- 
ment while he examined it. First there were 
many rolls of papyrus, carefully swathed in 
bandages; then several Canopic jars of pure gold, 
each containing quarts of wonderful pearls, 

87 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

rubies and emeralds; and finally a vast collection 
of wrought jewelry, gold and silver ornaments, 
some packed in rude wooden boxes which were 
old and falling to decay and others scattered 
loosely over them and filling every crevice. 

“Lovelace said not a word while we were ex- 
amining this vast treasure, the most remarkable 
collection that has come down to us from 
antiquity. His face was white and set and 
except for the trembling of his hands he kept 
himself under perfect control. The eyes of the 
Arabs, however, glittered with cupidity, and I 
caught them exchanging significant glances. 

“The Professor took a couple of handfuls of 
rubies and pearls and thrust them carelessly into 
his pockets. He selected a few golden ornaments 
of exquisite workmanship, and replaced all the 
rest of the treasure, with its padding, in the rock 
cavity. When this had been done he commanded 
us to replace the granite slab, which we did, 
tipping it forward so that it again covered the 
orifice. Our next task was to fill in the sand, and 
as a light breeze was blowing we knew that in an 
hour the desert would show no marks of the 
88 


The Professor’s Secret 

excavation we had so recently made. The levers 
we left lying beside the granite slab, buried deep 
in the sand. 

“Lovelace now motioned the Arabs to return 
toward their village, and they set out eagerly 
enough, we following close behind them. But 
after we had proceeded a few hundred yards 
Lovelace Pasha drew his revolver and calmly shot 
both men dead. 

“ ‘Now, Van Dorn,’ he said to me, ‘help me to 
bury this carrion.’ 

“Horrified as I was at the murderous act I 
hastened to obey, for there was something strange 
about the Professor that night — a steely, cruel 
gleam in his usually kindly eyes — that recalled my 
former suspicions and made me fear that his 
great discovery had actually driven him mad. 

“Silently we dug away the sand where the men 
had fallen and covered them up, smoothing the 
surface afterward as well as we were able. We 
proceeded to the village. 

“ ‘Where are my children ?’ demanded the 
sheik, sternly. 

“ ‘Gone away on a far errand,’ said Lovelace. 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“It was true enough, but Abdul Hashim was 
dissatisfied and suspicious. We slept late the next 
morning, and meantime the sheik had sent spies 
upon our trail. The jackals had dug up the bodies 
of the murdered Arabs and had half devoured 
them when their comrades reached the spot. 

“It was open war between the tribe and us. 
We occupied a small stone house at the edge of 
the village. It had but one dgor and no windows, 
being merely a bare room thatched with palm 
leaves. When we heard the tribe running toward 
us with wild cries we knew the climax had 
arrived. Lovelace stood in the doorway and kept 
the Arabs at bay with his revolvers, but he did not 
know how long he would be able to hold out. He 
gave me the gems and gold ornaments and told 
me to escape and make my way to Luxor for help. 
I was instructed to put the treasure into the bank, 
gather a rescue party, and return as speedily as 
possible. Luxor was distant only four miles 
across the desert. 

“While the Arabs were watching in front of 
the house I stood on the Professor’s shoulders, 
broke through the thatch at the rear, and dropped 
90 


The Professor’s Secret 


from the top of the stone wall to the sands be- 
neath. While he returned to the entrance to 
distract their attention by a shot, I darted away 
toward Luxor and was soon safe from pursuit, 
even had I chanced to be observed. 

“I performed my errand quickly and returned 
with a detachment of mounted police lent me by 
the governor of the city, for Professor Lovelace 
was a well-known explorer and under the protec- 
tion of the Khedive. We arrived too late. I 
found only the Professor’s dead body, terribly 
mutilated by the knives of the Arabs. They had 
tricked him in some way during my absence, and 
so obtained their revenge. 

Abdul Hashim calmly told the officers that 
Lovelace Pasha had gone mad, and was slain by 
them in self-defense. He pointed to two dead 
men and several wounded to prove the truth of 
his assertion. I told another story, as you may 
imagine, but with no hint of the treasure. Shortly 
afterward I had the satisfaction of inducing the 
governor to raze Abdul Hashim’s village to the 
ground, so that not one of the rude stones 

91 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

remained upon another, while the tribe was driven 
farther into the desert to seek new quarters. 

“Fortunately I had not banked the sample 
treasure we had taken, not wishing to delay my 
friend's rescue, so that now I found myself the 
sole possessor of any knowledge relating to the 
great discovery. It has remained my personal 
secret until this hour, when I have confided it to 
you, gentlemen, in order to induce you to 
assist me.” 

He paused, as if the tale was ended, and for 
a time we, his listeners, remained silent and 
thoughtful. The story had impressed me, for 
one, greatly, and it had seemed to ring true until 
he came to that row with the Arabs. There were 
some unlikely statements about the death of Love- 
lace and Van Dorn’s peculiar escape from the 
village, but I reflected that my ignorance of the 
ways of this people might well account for any 
seeming improbabilities that lurked in the story. 


92 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE TREASURE OF THE ANCIENTS. 

Unde Naboth was the first to speak. 

‘‘Tell me, sir,” said he, “why you have selected 
us to receive your confidence.” 

“I had two reasons,” replied Van Dorn. “One 
is that I am afraid. “I left Luxor and traveled 
to Cairo, trying to think of a way to secure the 
treasure for myself. At Cairo I was shot at from 
a window and narrowly escaped death. I came 
on here to Alexandria, as secretly as I could. Last 
night I was set upon by a band of Arabs, among 
whom I recognized the terrible Abdul Hashim. 
Had you not appeared at the same instant I would 
certainly have been killed. It seems as if Provi- 
dence had decreed that we should meet. You 
have a swift vessel, bound for America, and I 
have a great treasure to be secured and trans- 
ported home. Assist me in this emergency and 
93 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

your reward shall be greater than you could gain 
from a dozen voyages.” 

‘This treasure,” said my father, slowly and 
reflectively, belongs to the Egyptian government, 
accordin’ to your own say-so.” 

“Oh, no!” cried Van Dorn. 

“I take it that way, from your statement.” 

“I said the present laws of Egypt, enacted a 
few years ago, forbade any relic of the old 
civilization to be taken out of the country. The 
Museum will buy all my treasure, and give me an 
insignificant sum not at all commensurate with its 
value; but what right has the Khedive to claim 
what I have worked so hard to secure? In 
America the gems alone will sell for millions.” 

“But this is an Egyptian treasure,” I said. 
“The laws seem to me to be just. What right 
have you, a foreigner, to remove this great wealth 
from the country?” 

“The right of discovery,” retorted the little 
Professor, promptly, with an energetic bob of his 
head. “Who is the Khedive of Egypt ? A Turk. 
A foreigner like myself, if you please, who rules 
here as a dependant of Turkey, and pays the 
94 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


Sultan eleven millions a year in tribute — a sum 
he wrings from the remnant of the true Egyp- 
tians, and from the Arab and other native popula- 
tion, by means of excessive taxes. This treasure 
once belonged to Egypt, we will admit, and it was 
buried by the Egyptian priests to save it from 
just such invaders as these Turks. But Egyptians 
no longer rule Egypt, nor ever will again ; so that 
in simple justice this treasure belongs solely to its 
discoverer rather than to the usurper in the land 
where it lies buried.’^ 

“Still,’' said Uncle Naboth, “we have this gov- 
ernment to reckon with. Morally, you may be 
entitled to the treasure, but legally the decrees of 
the Khedive are inviolable. Eh? If we attempt 
to run away with this 'ere treasure, an’ get caught, 
we can be punished as common thieves.” 

“But we shall not be caught!” cried the Pro- 
fessor. “Mark you, no one in Egypt suspects the 
existence of this treasure, so to take it will be 
robbing no one — not even the Khedive.” 

“Doesn’t Abdul Hashim suspect it?” I inquired. 

“Yes; perhaps I should make an exception of 
Abdul Hashim; but his information is at present 
95 


TKe Boy Fortune Hunters 

confined to mere guessing, and he is too wily and 
covetous ever to tell his suspicions to a govern- 
ment official. What he wants is to get the 
treasure for himself, and the real battle, if we 
meet opposition, will be between Abdul Hashim 
and us. We ought to have killed him last night, 
when we had the chance; but unfortunately the 
dog made his escape.” 

“He’s a dangerous enemy,” observed Ned 
Britton. 

“Only to the unarmed and helpless,” quickly 
replied the Professor. “A half dozen Americans 
could defy his entire tribe. And it is possible we 
shall get a chance to kill him before he makes 
more trouble.” 

“You speak of murder very easily,” said my 
father. 

“It is not murder to kill an Arab,” protested 
the Professor. “They are but heathen men, 
wicked and cruel, and so numerous that a few of 
them sent to perdition will never be missed. The 
English here have no more hesitation in killing 
an Arab than in scotching a poisonous snake, and 
the authorities seldom inquire into the manner of 
96 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


his death. As long as the government remains in 
ignorance of my secret we are safe from inter- 
ference, except through this wild and worthless 
tribe led by Abdul Hashim, and brave Americans 
have no cause to fear him. Moreover, there is 
the treasure itself to be considered. Is it not 
worth while to risk something to secure an 
immense fortune?’’ 

‘What proof have you,” asked Uncle Naboth, 
“of the existence of this treasure?” 

Van Dorn hesitated a moment, then unbuttoned 
his vest and took from around his waist a leathern 
belt. This he laid carefully upon the table, and 
opening its folds drew out a number of 
brilliant rubies. 

“Here is my proof,” said he, offering the gems 
for inspection. “They are a part of the treasure 
Lovelace took on that terrible night I have 
described to you.” 

We examined them. They were large and 
brilliant, but cut into squares and oblongs, tri- 
angles and octagons, with smooth flat surfaces. 

“These may be glass,” remarked Uncle Naboth, 
musingly. 


97 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

‘‘I am a lapidary/' said the Professor, his voice 
slightly trembling with indignation. “I assure 
you they are the most splendid rubies in the 
known world. Here are pearls. Even your 
ignorance will acknowledge their genuineness." 

He produced, as he spoke, several superb 
pearls, as large as peas and tinted in exquisite 
rose colors. 

^‘Ah," exclaimed Mr. Perkins, “I know pearls, 
all right; for I have traded for years with the 
Philippine pearl fishers. You are a strange man, 
Professor Van Dorn, to wish to risk your life for 
more of this plunder. Here is a fortune in itself." 

Van Dorn shrugged his stooped shoulders, his 
red beard bristling with scorn. 

‘Would you, then, advise me to allow the 
treasure of Karnak to remain another two thou- 
sand years buried in the sands of the desert ?" he 
asked. “Are your big speculators in America 
satisfied to acquire a million, or do they every one 
labor like slaves to make their million into a 
billion? Men are satisfied with many things in 
this age, but never are they satisfied with wealth. 
The more we have the more we strive to obtain. 

98 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


But here — look at these ornaments. Can modern 
goldsmiths match them?’' 

He drew out a golden necklace of magnificent 
workmanship, quaint in design and wrought with 
a delicacy and skill that were wonderful. A 
bracelet, two rings, and a diadem set with ame- 
thysts were also exhibited to our admiring eyes. 

‘‘These,” said the Professor, “you must admit 
are both antique and valuable; yet they are a 
mere sample of the immense treasure I have dis- 
covered. There is enough, as I have told you, to 
make us all wealthy, and I am willing to divide 
liberally in order to obtain your assistance. But 
I shall not urge you. If you are too stupid or 
cowardly to accept my offer, keep my secret and 
go about your business. No harm is done. There 
will be thousands willing to undertake the 
adventure.” 

He put the jewels and ornaments back into the 
belt and buckled it around his waist, hiding it 
again underneath his vest. He leaned back in his 
chair, lighted a cigarette, and glanced at our grave 
faces inquiringly. 

“Be good enough to go on deck for a time, 

99 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Professor/' said my father. ‘‘We will talk the 
matter over among ourselves before venturing to 
give you an answer." 

He rose without protest and retired, and at 
once we began an earnest discussion of the pro- 
posal. The first point to settle was the legality 
of the thing, and it seemed to us the Professor 
was right in his contention that the present 
powers in Egypt, which had acquired the country 
by wars of conquest, had no more moral right to 
claim the buried treasure of the ancient priests of 
Karnak than had its recent discoverers. The 
old religion based on the worship of Isis and 
Osiris had disappeared from the earth and its 
votaries were long since dead or dispersed. The 
hidden treasure, formerly the property of this 
religious body, had now no legal claimants and 
belonged to whomsoever had the fortune to find 
it and the courage to seize and hold it. That the 
Khedive had made laws forbidding anyone to 
remove ancient treasure from Egypt did not 
affect us in the least. We were free Americans 
and in no way under the dominion of the Turks 
who had conquered Egypt. They might exact 


100 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


tribute from this land and establish the claim of 
might to whatever wealth the country contained ; 
but it was our privilege to evade this might if we 
chose to. There are true Egyptians yet living in 
Egypt, but they are poor-spirited folk and are 
largely outnumbered by the Arabs, Turks and 
other foreigners, so that the control of their native 
land is doubtless lost to them forever. 

Having thus satisfied our consciences that we 
were justified in undertaking an adventure to 
secure this wealth, we faced the consequences of 
failure or discovery. There was nothing to 
demand our immediate return to America, and 
the time required by the undertaking was there- 
fore available. But the Seagull represented a 
fortune to us, and we hesitated to jeopardize her 
safety. According to international treaty we were 
not safe from seizure in case the ship violated the 
laws of Egypt ; but there was a strong probability 
that the worst fate liable to overtake us, if dis- 
covered, would be the confiscation of the treasure. 
The Khedive would hesitate to involve his country 
in a dispute with the United States by resorting 
to extreme measures. We were taking a chance, 

lOI 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

of course; but the game seemed well worth the 
chance, and none can expect to win who hesitates 
to risk a stake. 

Having disposed of governmental interference 
we faced the question of a war with Abdul 
Hashim and his tribe, and decided to contest the 
Arab's claim — which was not in any way equal 
to that of the Professor, according to the story 
he had told us. We had before this encountered 
some desperate adventures in strange lands and 
were not disposed to shrink from a skirmish with 
these lawless Arabs, if they forced it upon us. 
There remained, then, but two points to be 
settled: the best way to get the treasure aboard 
ship, and our share in the division, once we had 
safely transported it to America. 

We recalled the Professor and asked him for 
his plans and proposals. He was a queer little 
fellow, this Van Dorn; half coward and half 
bully; but there was no doubt the man possessed 
a share of shrewd intelligence. 

‘Tf we undertake to go up the Nile, past Cairo 
and Assuit," he said, “and try to bring the 
treasure back to Alexandria, the chances are that 


102 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


we should never succeed. This is the most 
populous portion of Egypt, and government spies 
and the mounted police are everywhere. Had 
this been my plan I should not have appealed to 
you to assist me. Your claim to become my 
allies lies in the fact that you have a swift ship 
unknown in these waters, a brave crew, and the 
American love for adventure. But the ship is the 
most important possession of all.’’ 

“You don’t expect us to sail up the Nile, do 
you?” I asked, impatiently. 

“No, that is impossible,” was his quiet reply. 
“From here to Luxor is seven hundred miles ; but 
the Arabian Gulf, in the Red Sea, is only ninety 
miles from where the treasure is hidden. You 
will take your ship to Port Said, through the 
Suez Canal, and so down the Gulf to the small 
and unimportant town of Koser, where there is 
a good harbor. Here we shall hire camels which 
will take us in four days across the Arabian desert 
to the treasure, which we shall load upon the 
camels and bring back with us to the ship. We 
shall not appear at Karnak or Luxor at all, you 
see, and shall encounter only the desert Bedouins^ 

lOJ 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

who are quite friendly to Europeans. Nor need 
we even approach the ruins of Abdul Hashim’s 
village. I know how to find the spot where the 
treasure lies, and in that lonely place there will 
be none to spy upon us.” 

“But how shall we find our way across the 
desert?” asked Uncle Naboth. 

“Why, there still exists an ancient caravan 
route from Koser to Luxor,” the Professor 
returned, “and we shall be able to secure guides 
who know every step of the way. It will be a 
tedious journey; four days to go and four to 
return; but, as I have said, the reward will be 
ample for such insignificant hardships.” 

“Your plan seems safe and practical,” observed 
my uncle. “I like the idea. But now. Van Dorn, 
we must come to the most important point of all. 
What do you offer us in return for the use of our 
ship, for our services and for the expenses of the 
undertaking ?” 

“I will give you ten rubies and ten pearls,” 
said he. “They are of such size and purity that 
you can easily sell them for ten thousand dollars. 
That is an ample reward, it seems to me.” 

104 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


I laughed, and the others — even to Archie — 
smiled as if amused. The little Professor had 
spoken with an air of great condescension, as if 
conferring upon us a rare favor. 

‘^How much treasure is there?’' asked my 
father. 

‘That will not matter to you,” retorted Van 
Dorn. ‘T will give you the pearls and the rubies 
now, before we start. They shall be your wage. 
Afterward, all the treasure we secure shall be my 
own exclusive property.” 

Uncle Naboth yawned — it was a habit he had 
when bored — and my father slowly arose and 
stumped from the room. 

“When will you go ashore. Professor?” I 
asked. 

“What do you mean by that question?” he 
demanded, his face nearly as red as his beard. 

“Only that we intend to sail on our return 
voyage at sundown, and probably you are not 
quite ready to go to America in our company. 
One of the boats will land you on the quay 
whenever you please to go.” 

105 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

He looked at me intently, his face now turned 
chalky white. 

‘‘Come, Archie,” said I, cheerily, ‘‘let’s go and 
see about unloading your boxes.” 

“Stay!” cried Van Dorn, suddenly. “What 
do you people demand ?” 

“We? Oh, sir, we make no demands at all. 
Your proposition was, as you doubtless well 
knew, one it would be impossible for us to accept. 
But we shall keep your secret, never fear, and the 
best proof is that we are off for America. You 
are at liberty to go ashore and negotiate with 
others.” 

“And be murdered by Abdul Hashim,” he 
added, bitterly. 

“Ah; that is your affair,” I replied, indiffer- 
ently. 

I went on deck with Archie and directed the 
men in getting the Ackley cases hoisted from the 
hold and swung aboard a small lighter, which 
landed them safely on the quay. I intended to 
send the boy’s two big telescopes with the goods, 
but Archie objected. 

lo6 


The Treasure of the Ancients 


“Wait a bit/’ he whispered to me, soberly. “I 
haven’t yet decided to go ashore.” 

“Not to deliver your father’s goods to the mer- 
chants at Luxor ?” I asked, with a smile. 

“No. See here, Sam; I’m in on this deal,” he 
announced, earnestly. “If you fellows go fortune- 
hunting you must take me along.” 

“Oh, you want a share, do you?” I said, sar- 
castically. 

“I won’t refuse a small slice, Sam ; but for the 
most I’m after is the fun. This is the biggest deal 
I ever heard of, and it promises a lot of sport 
before you’re through with it. Let me in, will 
you?” he added, pleadingly. 

“I’m willing, Archie. But it’s likely we can’t 
come to terms with the Professor. He don’t want 
to divvy fair, you see.” 

The little man was now walking disconsolately 
about the deck. Apparently he was in a state of 
deep dejection. 

I went with Archie to the quay, where he paid 
the import duties on his father’s wares and ar- 
ranged to have them forwarded by the railway 
to Luxor, where they were consigned to himself, 
107 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“You see, we don’t know these Greek and 
Syrian merchants,” he explained, “and we can’t 
trust dealers in humbug goods. That’s why 
father wanted me to come along. I’m to collect 
for the stuff when I deliver it, and also take orders 
for anything more they want us to manufacture.” 

“But don’t you intend to travel with the 
goods ?” I asked. 

“No. They can wait at Luxor for me uiltil 
we’ve decided what to do about the Professor’s 
treasure. According to his story it lies buried 
only a few' miles from Luxor, so I may be able to 
attend to both errands at the same time.” 

Ah; if we only knew what this plan was 
destined to cost us ! 


io8 


CHAPTER VII. 


A GREAT UNDERTAKING. 

As Archie and I returned along the quay from 
the custom house, to regain our boat, I noticed 
standing upon the edge of the dock the solitary 
but impressive figure of an Arab. 

He was fully six feet tall and splendidly 
formed. His dirty white burnous was wrapped 
around him in a way to emphasize the dignity of 
his pose, and his handsome countenance was calm 
and impassive. From beneath the ample folds of 
a black and yellow turban two wide dark eyes 
were set on a point of vision across the bay, and 
following his gaze I saw that it was directed 
toward the Seagull lying at her anchorage. These 
eyes, accustomed to the distances of the desert, 
might be stronger than my own, yet I myself 
found that I could discern dark forms moving 
about upon our deck, and one in especial — was it 
109 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

the Professor ? — was leaning quietly over the side 
nearest the quay. 

The Arab did not notice Archie or me, so I had 
a chance to examine him critically. He was not 
old — perhaps thirty-five — and his unshaven face 
was a light tan in color. As we rowed out to the 
ship his eyes at last fell upon us, and I thought 
that he watched us intently until we were well 
aboard. From the deck I could still see his stal- 
wart, motionless figure standing erect in the same 
position ; and perhaps the Professor saw him, too, 
for he came4;oward me with an uneasy expression 
upon his face and requested another interview 
with my father. Uncle Naboth, and myself. 

I summoned Ned Britton, Archie, and Joe, as 
well, and presently we all assembled in my 
father’s cabin. 

‘T have been thinking over this proposal,” 
began Van Dorn, ‘‘and have concluded that my 
first offer was not liberal enough, in the circum- 
stances. To be frank with you,” his little, ferret 
eyes were anything but frank, just then, “the 
treasure is useless to me without your assistance 
jn obtaining and transporting it to a place of 
iiQ 


A Great Undertaking 

safety. So I am willing to meet your views in the 
matter of a division of the spoils.’’ 

We regarded him silently, and after a moment 
he added: ‘What do you think would be just, 
or satisfactory?” 

My uncle answered. He was an experienced 
trader. 

“According to your own story, sir,” said he, 
“you are not the original discoverer of this 
treasure. Professor Lovelace worked several 
years in tracing it, and finally succeeded because 
he had found an obscure diagram engraved on the 
ruined walls of a temple. He hired you to assist 
him. Tell us, then, what share of the plunder did 
he promise you ?” 

The Professor hesitated, but thinking to 
deceive us, though his manner assured us he was 
lying, he said boldly : 

“I was to have one-half. But of course after 
Lovelace was murdered the whole belonged 
to me.” 

“Was there any compact to that effect?” I 
asked. 


Ill 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“Not exactly. But it is reasonable and just, is 
it not?’’ 

“Had Lovelace no heirs — no family?” 

“None whatever.” 

Said Uncle Naboth, with his usual deliberation: 

“If you were to receive one-half the treasure 
from Lovelace, in return for your assistance, we 
will make the same contract with you in return 
for ours. Lovelace seemed to think it was worth 
that much, and we will abide by his judgment.” 

Van Dorn turned red. There was no escape 
from the toils he had cast about himself by his 
foolish statement. He looked thoughtfully out 
of the window, and following his gaze I saw the 
solitary Arab still standing on the quay with his 
face set in our direction. 

A scarcely perceptible tremor seemed to pass 
over the Professor’s slight frame. He turned to 
us with a new animation in his face. 

“Professor Lovelace reserved for himself the 
collection of papyrus rolls,” said he, in a brisk 
tone. “I will do the same. These writings would 
be of no value to you, in any event. All of the 
jewels, ornaments, or other treasure than the 


II2 


A Great Undertaking 

papyri, I will agree to divide with you equally/* 
‘‘Very good,” said Uncle Naboth, with a nod. 
“It is our agreement. Write it down, Sam, and 
all these witnesses shall sign the document.** 

I brought paper and pens and began to draw up 
the agreement. Presently I paused. 

“In case of your death. Professor, I suppose 
you are willing all the treasure should belong to 
us, since that was your own claim when Lovelace 
died?** 

He grew a little pale as he answered : “Do you 
want to put that in the paper ?** 

“Yes, if you please.** 

“Will you agree, on your part, to protect me 
from harm in all possible ways, to guard my life 
as completely as you do your own lives ?** 
“Certainly.** 

“Then include it in the contract. It would be 
a terrible thing to die just when all this treasure 
is fairly in my grasp; but if I lose my life in the 
venture there is no one to inherit my possessions.’* 
As I resumed my writing Uncle Naboth 
remarked : 

“We’ll look after you, sir, never fear. Sam 

113 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

only means to cover any possible rnishaps, and I 
guess he’s right. But we’ll be satisfied with a 
fair division, and intend to do our duty by you if 
it costs us our lives to protect you.” 

When the contract was ready the Professor 
signed it without a word of protest, and after 
the witnesses had attached their signatures the 
little man went on deck and left us alone. 

‘‘He means treachery,” remarked my father, 
coolly. 

Uncle nodded. 

“Quite possible, Dick; but it will be our busi- 
ness to watch him. His story is true, because 
he has the evidence to prove it, and I’ve no doubt 
he’ll lead us straight to the treasure. But what 
his game is afterwards, I can’t imagine.” 

After that we sat silent for a time. 

“Uncle,” said I, happening to think of the 
thing, “Archie wants to go along with us.” 

Mr. Perkins scratched his head reflectively. 

“What share does he want?” he asked. 

I turned to Archie for the reply. 

“If I’m any help to you, you can give me what- 
ever you please,” said the boy. “I want to see 
1 14 


A Great Undertaking 

the fun, mostly; but I’ll not refuse any reward 
I’m able to earn.” 

‘That’s fair and square,” said Uncle Naboth. 
“You’re welcome to come along.” 

“Now, then,” proclaimed my father, “we’ve 
got to talk to the men. That’s your job, Sam — 
you’ve got the gift of palaver. The enterprise is 
irreg’lar an’ some dangerous, an’ our lads must 
be told jest what they’re expected to do.” 

We went on deck and piped all hands aft for a 
conference. 

As clearly as I was able I related to the crew 
the story Van Dorn had told us, and his proposal 
to us to assist him in getting the treasure. The 
only points I concealed were the location of the 
hoard and its probable value. 

“If you will join us in this adventure,” I 
added, “we promise every man three times his 
regular pay, and in case we get the treasure one- 
tenth of our share also be divided equally among 
you. We don’t expect much trouble, yet there 
may be a scrimmage or so with the Arabs before 
we get done. Any of you who fear this danger 
or don’t like the job we’ve undertaken, will be left 

115 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

at Port Said until we return, and we shall think 
none the worse of those men, who will simply for- 
feit their prize money. Now, lads, what do you 
say?” 

There wasn't a dissenting voice among them. 
They were Americans. Many had sailed with us 
before, and all were picked men who had proved 
themselves honest and trustworthy. My father 
had indeed chosen his crew with care and judg- 
ment, and I think we were not much surprised 
that from Ned Britton down to the meanest sailor 
all were eager to undertake the venture. 

We cleared the port, sailed down to Port Said, 
and paid our fee to be passed through the Suez 
Canal to the Gulf of Arabia — no insignificant 
sum, by the way, but an incidental expense of the 
enterprise. The Professor had sadly informed 
us that he had no ready money to meet any of 
these emergencies; therefore we undertook to 
pay all expenses. 

Our last view of the quay at Alexandria 
showed the strange Arab still at his post, motion- 
less and staring calmly after us. I noticed that 
Van Dorn heaved a sigh of relief when we drew 

ii6 


A Great Undertaking 

away from the harbor and the solitary watcher 
had faded slowly from our sight. 

We were obliged to lie for four days at Port 
Said before our turn came to enter the canal, for 
several big liners of the East India Company and 
many packets of many nations were before us. 
Having our own engines we did not require a tug, 
and after a seemingly interminable period, 
although the distance is only one hundred miles, 
we emerged from the canal at Suez and Port 
Ibrahim and’ found the broad waters of the Red 
Sea lying before us. 

Heading southward we found fair breezes that 
wafted us at a good speed along the two hundred 
and fifty miles of barren coast between Suez and 
Koser. The Arabian desert, bleak and covered in 
places with bare mountains, was in sight on our 
right all the way, and the few small villages we 
passed did not seem inviting. 

At length, on the evening of the 12th of 
February, we anchored in the little harbor of 
Koser, and although the natives came flocking 
around us in their miserable fishing boats, offer- 
ing fruit for sale and doubtless wondering what 
117 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

chance had led so strange and trim a craft as the 
Seagull to their forsaken port, we made no 
attempt to land or communicate with them until 
the next morning. 


ii8 


CHAPTER VIIL 


GEGE-MERAK. 

After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, 
and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive 
wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town 
— a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, 
standing on a small eminence near the bay. At 
the left of the town were several large store- 
houses belonging to the government, where tithes 
of grain were kept. 

A silent but observant group of natives met as 
on shore and accompanied us up the path to one 
of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who 
understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and 
cadi awaited our coming. 

After a brief delay we were ushered into a low 
but spacious room where the light was so dim 
that at first I could see nothing. Presently, 
however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom 
and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting 
1 19 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group 
of friends and advisors. 

To my relief they spoke English; brokenly, yet 
sufficiently well to be understood; and the sheik 
in most polite phrases begged to know why we 
had honored his poor village by a visit. 

The Professor explained that our vessel was 
bound for India, but that some of our party had 
an errand at Luxor and we wished to secure a 
guide, an armed escort, and some good camels, 
to form a caravan to cross the desert and return. 
The ship would wait in the harbor until we had 
accomplished our journey. 

They listened to this story respectfully. We 
were Americans, they judged. Only Americans 
in Egypt were credited with doing unusual things. 
An Englishman or other foreigner would have 
taken the railway to Luxor by way of Cairo. 

But they had no desire to grumble at our 
strange whim. To keep the ship in their harbor 
a week longer would mean more or less patronage 
of the village bazar as well as harbor fees for the 
sheik. The caravan across the desert would mean 


120 


Gege-Merak 

good earnings for many worthy citizens, no 
doubt. 

But just here they seemed to scent difficulties. 
The Arabs talked together earnestly in their own 
language, and the Professor explained to us in 
an anxious voice that guides were scarce in Koser 
just then. The best, a famous Arab Bedouin, had 
gone west to the mines on a three weeks’ journey. 
Another had just departed to take a party to Kift. 
The third and last one available was lying ill with 
a fever. There was no trouble about camels ; the 
sheik had himself several superior animals to 
offer, and a neighbor chief of the Bega Bedouins 
owned a splendid drove and could furnish any 
number required. But the guide was lacking, and 
a guide was absolutely necessary; for the desert 
was trackless and infested by haramyeh, or 
robbers. 

That seemed to settle the matter, to the great 
grief of the sheik; but the little Professor pro- 
tested most vigorously that he had to go, and 
that a way must be found to secure for us a com- 
petent guide. Extra money would be available in 
the emergency, he added, and the hint set the 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

dirty bearded Arabs conferring again. They 
talked in Arabic, and I heard the name of Gege- 
Merak* mentioned several times. The Professor, 
listening intently, told me this was the Bega chief 
who owned the camels. Gege-Merak had once 
been the most famous guide on the desert, but he 
was now old, and had retired from active life 
years ago. Still, if there was plenty of money 
to tempt him, he might be induced personally to 
lead us to Luxor and back. 

The discussion resulted in a messenger being 
dispatched to Gege-Merak, who lived a day’s 
journey in the desert, to propose our offer and 
bring back the chief’s reply. There would be 
nine of our own party, and we desired an escort 
of six armed natives, besides the guide. 

The delay was inevitable, and we waited as 
patiently as we could for the messenger’s return. 
That evening we entertained the sheik and his 
chief men at dinner aboard the ship, and before 
they returned to the shore they vowed undying 
friendship for us all, including Nux and Bryonia. 


*Pronouiiced Gay-gay Maw-rock.” 


Gege-Merak 

My father's cork leg especially won their admira- 
tion and respect, and they declared he must be a 
very great and famous Captain in his own 
country to be entrusted with the command of so 
noble and so beautiful a ship. We told them he 
was. The Professor added that next to the 
President himself all Americans revered Captain 
Steele, who had won many battles fighting 
against his country’s enemies. I was amused at 
this absurd description, but it afterward served us 
a good turn, and perhaps preserved our lives. 

The next day we visited the bazar, where 
unimportant articles were offered for sale, and 
as the sheik was himself the principal owner we 
purchased considerable rubbish that we had no 
use for, just to keep the rascals good natured. 

On the third day, at about sunset, the 
messenger returned, and to our surprise he was 
accompanied by a train of fifteen camels — all fine, 
strong specimens of these desert steeds. 

He had brought bad news for the sheik, though. 
Gege-Merak had consented to guide the strangers 
in person, but he would supply all the camels, 
tents, and blankets himself, and receive all the hire 
123 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

for them. Moreover, the armed escort must be 
all from his own tribe ; no dog of an Arab should 
have anything to do with his caravan. 

The sheik frowned, cursed the impudent Bega, 
and swore he would not allow his dear friends, 
the Americans, to fall into Gege-Merak’s power. 

Uncle Naboth and I went out and examined 
the escort. They were handsome, well-formed 
fellows, with good features and dark, bronze hued 
complexions. Their limbs were slender and 
almost delicately formed, yet promised strength 
and agility. I decided at once that these men 
looked less like robbers than the stealthy-eyed, 
sly-moving Arabs of the village. 

The Ababdeh — for the Bega warriors belonged 
to this caste — sat their camels stolidly and in 
silence, awaiting the acceptance or rejection of the 
offer of their chieftain. They were dressed in 
coarse woolen robes colored in brilliant native 
hues, but they wore no head covering except their 
luxuriant, bushy hair, which formed a perfect 
cloud around their faces and seemed to me nearly 
a foot in thickness. In their girdles were short 
knives and each man carried slung across his back 
124 


Gege-Merak 

a long, slender rifle with an elaborately engraved 
silver stock. 

My uncle agreed with me that the escort looked 
manly and brave. We concluded there was a 
way to satisfy the sheik, so we went back to him 
and offered to pay a liberal sum for his permis- 
sion to engage Gege-Merak. He graciously con- 
sented, although he warned us that the desert 
Bega were not the safest people in the world to 
intrust with our lives and that only the fear of 
consequences would prevent the Ababdeh chief 
from murdering us and rifling our bodies. 

The Professor, however, had no such fears. 
He confided to us his opinion that we were for- 
tunate in having no Arabs in our party. In case 
we chanced to encounter Abdul Hashim, the Bega 
would be more likely to prove faithful than would 
the Koser Arabs. All Arabs hate Christians in 
their hearts, added the Professor, and most of 
the desert tribes, who had existed in Egypt long 
before the Arabs overran the country, hated the 
Mussulmans as much as the latter hated the 
Christians. The Ababdeh tribes were natural 
thieves ; he could not deny that ; but he had reason 
1^5 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

to hope for our safe return from our adventure. 

For my part I pinned my faith to our stalwart 
escort of American sailors, thinking in my pride 
and ignorance that any one of them would be 
worth six Bega or Arabs if it came to a fight, and 
forgetting that the desert is a prison to those who 
do not know its trackless wilds. 

Desiring as little delay as possible we loaded 
the camels that evening with provisions from our 
ship and the light baggage, taking no more of 
the latter than was absolutely necessary. Bryonia, 
who was going with the party, insisted on carry- 
ing certain pots and pans with which to provide 
proper meals while en route, and these the Bega 
looked upon with absolute disdain. But I was 
glad to see our cook’s provision for our comfort, 
since we were to be gone eight or nine days at 
the least. 

Next morning we mounted the camels and set 
out. After some careful figuring we had organ- 
ized our party as follows : The Professor first, of 
course; then Uncle Naboth, Archie Ackley, Joe, 
and myself. My father made some objection to 
three boys joining the party, but it was an ad- 
126 


Gege-Merak 

venture in which any boy would be eager to 
participate, and Joe begged so hard to go along 
and was so devoted to me personally that I argued 
the matter until Captain Steele gave in and con- 
sented. My father thought he could not ride a 
camel in comfort because of his cork leg, so he 
remained aboard to look after the ship. He let 
Ned Britton join us, though, and three sailors, 
all loyal fellows and splendid specimens of Amer- 
ican manhood. This completed our party of nine. 
We were all armed with revolvers and repeating 
rifles, and felt that in case of attack or interfer- 
ence we could give a good account of ourselves. 

The weather was warm at this season, but 
when we started, soon after dawn, a gentle breeze 
was coming over the desert and we set out in 
good spirits in spite of the fact that the motion of 
the camels caused us to sway awkwardly in our 
tall saddles. We should get used to this motion 
in time, the Professor assured us; but at first it 
jolted us terribly. 

It seemed as if the entire population of the 
village had assembled to see us start, and from 
their looks they evidently considered us little less 
127 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 


than madmen. The sheik wished us a safe 
journey and promised in the hearing of the Bega 
to avenge us in case we met with treachery; but 
at the same time, he told the Professor privately, 
he refused to guarantee our savage escort in any 
particular. 

Bidding my father and the crew of the Seagull 
a cheery farewell,we left Koser and began our 
journey across the desert. 

The Ababdeh were silent fellows, but when I 
questioned them I found that at least two of their 
number understood and spoke English fairly 
well. They did not waste words in expressing 
themselves, but seemed intelligent and respectful 
in their demeanor toward us. 

Our progress the first day was slow, for the 
way was across heavy sands that tired the camels 
to walk upon. We made a halt for luncheon and 
at about sundown reached the encampment of the 
Bega chief, Gege-Merak. It was situated on a 
tiny oasis of the desert, which boasted a well of 
good water and a group of a dozen tall spreading 
date-palms. Under the palms were set the chief 
houses of the village, made of mud and thatched 
128 




mMk§§ 






' .- >4^ 




j: 

f. 


■j^ M .4rsa& 

V5; ^'.•. 

*<r^ M 


The village in the oasis 





Gege-Merak 

with palm leaves ; but the huts of the people ex- 
tended also out upon the desert, on all sides of the 
oasis. These mainly consisted of low walls of 
mud roofed with squares of canvas, and none save 
the house of the chieftain was high enough for a 
man to stand upright within it. 

I was surprised at the number of this isolated 
tribe of Bega, and it was a wonder to me how 
they all managed to subsist. They had many 
goats and camels and a small herd of buffalo- 
cows — too many, seemingly, to crop the scant 
herbage of the oasis; but there was no attempt 
at agriculture that I could discover. 

We halted before the house of the chief, and 
after conferring together our escort conducted 
my uncle, the Professor, and myself into the 
building. We found ourselves in a large, cool 
room, lighted and aired by open spaces between 
the top of the walls and the roof. At the rear 
was a dark passage, doubtless leading into other 
apartments, but the appearance of the interior 
was extremely primitive and unattractive. 

Upon a rush mat at one side of the room sat a 
young girl, her slender form graceful and upright, 
129 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

her dark eyes fixed curiously upon us. She 
seemed about fifteen years of age, but may have 
been two or three years younger, for the women 
of these desert gypsies mature early in life. Her 
hair, unlike that of the other Bega we had seen, 
was not bushy and cloudlike, but its luxuriant 
tresses were heavily plaited into several braids, 
two hanging in front over either shoulder and 
two others dropping behind her back. On her 
arms or ankles were broad bands or bracelets of 
silver, some of them set with odd stones of 
strange colors and shapes. Golden bangles — per- 
haps Persian or Arabian coins — were strung to- 
gether on wires and woven into the braids of her 
hair. She wore a robe of some thin, strong ma- 
terial which was striped in alternate bands of 
scarlet and green — a robe more becoming than 
its description sounds, I think — and across her 
rounded shoulders was folded a Syrian scarf cov- 
ered with rich embroidery. 

The girl was undeniably handsome. She would 
have been conspicuous by reason of her beauty in 
any civilized community. Here, surrounded by 
130 


Gege-Merak 

a barbaric desert tribe, she seemed a veritable 
daughter of Venus. 

I could not stare long at this gracious sight, 
for beside the girl sat, or rather squatted, a per- 
sonage whose powerful individuality compelled 
attention. 

Gege-Merak — for I did not doubt I beheld the 
chief — was a withered, wrinkled old man scarce 
five feet in height when standing upright, a 
veritable dwarf among his handsome, well formed 
subjects. One eye — the right one — was gone, 
and across the sightless cavity and reaching from 
his cheek to his forehead, was a broad, livid scar 
as from the slash of a knife or a sword-cut. The 
other eye, small and glittering, regarded us with 
a glare as disconcerting as that of a snake, it 
being set in his face deep amid the folds of 
wrinkled flesh. His chin protruded and his thin 
lips were closed together in a straight line, while 
his bushy hair was snow-white in color, denoting 
great age. 

I own I was amazed to find the famous chief 
so different from his people ; and when I realized 
that we had voluntarily put our lives into the 

131 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

keeping of this old, evil-featured Bega, I began 
to suspect there was a foundation for the Arab 
sheik’s persistent croak of danger. Still, as Gege- 
Merak sat huddled upon his mat, motionless save 
for that roving, terrible eye, it occurred to me 
that he was too old and feeble to lead the caravan 
himself, as he had sent word to us that he would 
do, and without doubt would delegate the task 
to some other. 

At our entrance the warriors knelt to their 
chief and crouched subserviently their foreheads 
to the mate; but afterward they stood erect in 
a group at one side. They neither saluted nor 
appeared to notice the girl at all. 

‘‘So,” said Gege-Merak, in a quiet voice and 
speaking excellent English. “Here are the trav- 
elers who wish to be led to Luxor. What is your 
errand there?” 

He looked from one to another of us, and I 
took upon myself to answer him, as the Professor 
seemed to hesitate. 

“Sir, that is our business alone,” I declared, 
stiffly. “All that we require from you is your 
camels, your warriors to guard us, and a guide.” 

132 


Gege-Merak. 

am rebuked, Effendi/* said he, fixing his 
small eye upon me with a penetrating gaze, but 
exhibiting no humility in his tones. After a 
slight pause : ‘‘Do you agree to my price in re- 
turn for the service you require 

“Yes; you are to receive one hundred English 
pounds.” 

“In advance,” he added, softly. 

“One-half in advance,” said I. “The remainder 
when we have returned in safety.” 

“Let me see the money.” 

I produced a bag containing fifty gold pounds, 
and stooping down counted them out upon the 
mat before him. He watched me silently. 

“Now I will see the other fifty,” he said. 

I began to dislike the chief; but now the Pro- 
fessor said, somewhat to my surprise. 

“Pay him the full amount, Mr. Steele; it will 
be better that way.” 

“Why?” I asked, turning to him rather an- 
grily. 

“Because the great chief is suspicious of our 
honesty, and we want him to believe we are hon- 
est. Also because Gege-Merak’s word is sacred, 

133 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

and he will be faithful when he is paid. For a 
third reason, it will be just as well for you not to 
carry that gold across the desert and back again, 
when the chief is able to put it away in a safe 
place before we begin the journey.’' 

Gege-Merak listened carefully and it was evi- 
dent he approved this argument. But he said 
nothing and merely looked at me inquiringly. 

Of course, if the natives would prove faithful, 
the Professor’s plan of advance payment was 
best. After a look toward Uncle Naboth, which 
he answered with a nod, I drew out another fifty 
pounds and counted it upon the mat beside the 
first. 

‘‘Now, Gege-Merak,” said I, “you are paid in 
full.” 


134 


CHAPTER IX. 


ACROSS THE BLACK MOUNTAINS. 

The cruel little eye of the chief twinkled 
brightly at sight of all this golden display, but 
he made no motion to gather it up. Instead, he 
turned his keen glance first upon me and then 
upon the others of our party, as if striving to 
gauge our thoughts and read our secret charac- 
ters. 

‘T will see the other Americans,’' he finally 
said. 

The Professor summoned Ned Britton, Archie, 
Joe, Bry, and the sailors, and soon they all stood 
wonderingly before the Bega chief. He exam- 
ined each one with silent interest, down to the 
smallest item of attire. He nodded and asked 
them to again withdraw. 

“Effendi,” said he, addressing me when the 
others were gone, “you are deceiving me in re- 
gard to your errand. Your party is strong and 

135 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

heavily armed. You ask me for brave warriors 
to assist you, and for my own services as guide. 
All this is not usual with peaceful traders or trav- 
elers who wish to cross the desert to Luxor on an 
errand of simple business. Another thing. You 
willingly pay me a big price — more than my serv- 
ice is really worth. Again, you ask for two extra 
camels, bearing empty saddle-bags. Therefore 
you have a secret intention you do not reveal to 
me. The little red-beard’s eyes are bright with 
fever. You all expect trouble. You may get me 
mixed with your trouble, so that the authorities 
will imprison me and scatter my tribe. I am a 
good subject of the mighty Sultan and our father 
the Khedive. Therefore I refuse the compact. 
Take your gold, Effendi, and return to Koser.” 

This speech of the wily chief fairly took away 
my breath. Uncle Naboth seemed disappointed, 
and the Professor trembled nervously. I am 
sure our various emotions were clearly apparent 
to Gege-Merak, for his roving eye bore an ex- 
pression of grim amusement. 

It was the Professor who finally answered, 


Across the Black Mountains 


He knew the covert disposition of these strange 
people better than we did. 

“See, then, my brother, how much we trust in 
your friendship and honesty,” said he. “Our 
errand is indeed twofold, as you have wisely sus- 
pected. One part is to permit the young effendi, 
Archie Ackley, whom you have just seen, to col- 
lect pay for his wares from certain merchants 
in Luxor. The second part of our errand is to 
permit me to secure some property belonging to 
me which I left concealed in a part of the desert 
near Karnak. Our bargain with you is to guide 
and escort us safely to these places and enable 
us to bring back to our ship at Koser the prop- 
erty I have mentioned and young Ackley’s pay- 
ments from the merchants. For our purpose of 
transportation the two extra camels will be suf- 
ficient. But we shall have no trouble with the 
authorities, because we intend to commit no 
crime and break no law of the land. I will not 
conceal from you the fact that I am at enmity 
with a miserable Arab sheik named Abdul 
Hashim, who lives upon the desert near Luxor 
and who might try to prevent me from securing 

137 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

my property if he knew I had come for it. He 
does not suspect my journey at present, and I 
hope to avoid him altogether, since he is just 
now under the displeasure of the Khedive’s po- 
lice, which has destroyed his village and scat- 
tered his lawless band. But we must go armed 
in case the Arab dares to molest us, and part of 
your liberal payment is to fight well for us if 
there should be need. Also, bands of robbers 
infest the desert, and we do not wish to be robbed 
on our journey. So we take all needful precau- 
tions. Is the great and wise chief, my brother, 
now satisfied?” 

Gege-Merak was silent for a time, thought- 
fully studying the mat at his feet. Then he re- 
plied : 

‘T know Abdul Hashim. He is a jackal. I 
know the police have destroyed his village, as 
you truly say; but he is rebuilding it. Abdul 
Hashim has powerful friends, and he will fight 
his foes in spite of our father the Khedive. If I 
accept your offer I may lose many camels and 
pien. Also I make a foe forever of Abdul 
138 


Across the Black Mountains 


Hashim and his tribe. No; I will not consent; 
the hundred gold pounds is not enough.’’ 

He had caught us fairly. I saw plainly enough 
that we must either abandon the adventure alto- 
gether or consent to be robbed at the start by 
this grasping Bega. The Professor asked per- 
mission for us to withdraw and consult together, 
and we went into the open air to hold a confer- 
ence. 

Uncle Naboth asked the Professor how much 
he judged the treasure to be worth. We had 
already invested a considerable sum in the specu- 
lation and were about to risk our lives as well. 

Van Dorn could only estimate the amount of 
the treasure, of which he had obtained merely a 
glimpse. But he thought its total value could 
not possibly equal less than five hundred thousand 
pounds, or two and a half million dollars in 
American money. It was well worth doubling 
the chief’s bribe, he urged, and we all were loth 
to retreat on the eve of our adventure. We 
decided to win Gege-Merak’s support at all haz- 
ards, and presently stood again in the presence 
of the chief. 


139 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

He sat just as we had left him, with the beau- 
tiful, statuesque girl at his side, and the money 
still spread before him on the mat. 

‘‘Brother,'’ said the Professor, “we have coun- 
selled together and decided that your demands 
are not unfriendly. For your powerful support, 
for the risk you take and the assurance that you 
will stand by us bravely and faithfully, we will 
double the price first agreed upon. Twenty 
pounds more we will give you now. It is all 
the remaining money we brought with us. But 
upon our return to the ship we will give you 
eighty pounds in addition, making two hundred 
pounds in all. Does this satisfy you?” 

“No,” was the quiet answer. “Give me the 
twenty pounds and your writing to pay me one 
hundred and eighty pounds more on our return 
to the ship and I shall be content. If any of my 
men are killed in fighting I will say nothing. If 
any of your party is killed you shall not blame 
me in any way. Make a writing as I have said 
and I will be true to you. This is my last word.” 

I groaned in spirit at the necessity, but I tore 
a leaf from my notebook and with my fountain 
I4Q 


Across the Black Mountains 


pen wrote the agreement. Uncle Naboth and the 
Professor added their signatures to mine. It was 
a great sum in Egypt, this fifteen hundred dol- 
lars, and we had promised not to hold Gege- 
Merak responsible if any of us lost our lives in 
the venture. But the Professor assured us we 
had won a powerful ally and that the investment 
was warranted by our necessity. 

I gave the Bega chief the paper, which I felt 
sure he could not read, and counted out our re- 
maining twenty pounds upon the mat. There- 
upon he spoke to the girl in his native tongue, 
for the Bega have a language of their own, al- 
though they usually speak a hybrid Arabic. She 
leaned forward, calmly gathered up the money 
in her scarf, arose and left the room by the dark 
passage. She was tall for her age and moved 
with grace and dignity. 

“At daybreak,’’ said Gege-Merak, “the cara- 
van will be ready to start. I shall go with you. 
To-night my brothers will sleep in a house pre- 
pared for you. Ketti will lead you to it.” 

The young warrior who had guided us to the 
village from Koser now came forward and bowed 
141 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

to US respectfully. We nodded farewell to the 
chief and followed Ketti to a large house of one 
bare room, where our entire party shortly as- 
sembled. Bry had already brought out his pots 
and pans and soon a good supper was ready for 
us. Appetites are keen upon the desert, and the 
evening was already well advanced when we had 
finished the repast. Soon after, tired by our 
first day of camel riding, we rolled ourselves in 
our blankets and fell asleep. 

I was roused even before daybreak by the 
noise and shouting in the village. Every inhabi- 
tant seemed astir and in a state of wild excite- 
ment, yet there was nothing for our party to do 
but fold our blankets and eat the breakfast our 
black cook quickly served us. At first we 
stumbled around blindly in the gloom, but grad- 
ually the sky grew lighter, until suddenly the 
first red beams of the sun shot over the edge of 
the desert. Beside the well and just in front of 
the chiefs house the camels were assembled, all 
bridled and saddled and ready for the journey. 
We took the beasts assigned us and mounted to 
our places while the obedient creatures knelt to 
142 


Across the Black Mountains 


receive their burdens. The entire population of 
the village stood around, silent now, but obser- 
vant, to watch the start. 

When we were ready I noticed that two of 
the camels still knelt awaiting their riders. They 
bore gorgeous trappings, the saddles being 
studded with brass and silver ornaments. The 
delay was brief, for soon the little old chief came 
from his house, followed by the girl we had seen 
the night before. 

I had wondered how Gege-Merak, who had 
seemed to be nothing more than a withered, 
dried-up mummy, could by any possibility be able 
to lead the caravan in person; but now, to my 
surprise, he advanced with swift steps, agile and 
light as the tread of a panther, and seated him- 
self upon his kneeling camel. His one bright eye 
roved over the assembled villagers, who all pros- 
trated themselves an instant before resuming 
their former upright positions. The chief was 
clad in the same bright colored burnous he had 
worn the night before. An old-fashioned pistol 
was stuck in his sash and at his side hung a Turk- 
ish cimetar with a jeweled handle. When his 

143 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

camel had risen to its feet Gage-Merak made a 
brief speech to the villagers and gave the signal 
to start. 

The girl, meantime, had quietly mounted the 
other camel and taken her place beside the chief. 
No one saluted her or seemed to notice her pres- 
ence, yet to me she was scarcely less interesting 
than her aged companion. The Bega women 
were numerous in the village, were generally 
good looking and bold in their demeanor, yet the 
warriors seemed to make a point of disregarding 
them altogether, as if the sex was wholly un- 
worthy of masculine attention. It seemed to be 
a Bega characteristic and partly explained why 
the chief’s companion was so generally ignored, 
but I was curious to know something of the girl 
who was to accompany us. So as we rode slowly 
away from the oasis I asked Ketti, who was near 
me, who she was. 

“Gege-Merak’s grandchild,” was the answer, 
and I thought the young warrior’s eyes rested for 
an instant upon the young girl with a gleam of 
admiration. 


144 


Across the Black Mountains 

‘Will she succeed the chief, when he dies?’’ I 
inquired. 

“No, Effendi. Iva is but a woman. Only a 
man becomes chief of a Bega tribe.” 

“I see. In our country, Ketti, a woman is 
considered equal to a man.” 

He made no reply to the observation and after 
a moment I continued: 

“Tell me, then, why does Iva ride with us 
on this journey?” 

He frowned, glancing around sharply to see 
that we were not overheard. But we had ridden 
quite out of earshot. 

“Effendi, we speak little of such matters, but 
it is the superstition of Gege-Merak. He believes 
that he will live as long as his grandchild lives, 
but no longer. If she dies, then he will die. 
Allah has decreed it. For this reason the chief 
does not dare to leave her behind, lest some 
harm happen to her.” 

I laughed at this explanation, but the warrior’s 
face was grave. He was by far the handsomest 
and most intelligent of our escort, and his 

145 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

dignified and straightforward expression at- 
tracted me toward him. 

‘‘Always the chief does not treat Iva well/’ 
he added, as if to himself, as he glanced again to 
where the oddly mated couple rode at the head 
of the caravan. “Her health he guards, because 
he is selfish; but he makes the girl his slave.” 

It occurred to me I had been right in guessing 
that the young man entertained a tender feeling 
toward Iva. But I could scarcely blame him. 
She was very attractive — for a Bega. 

We made toward a dim ridge of mountains 
that showed at the southeast and during the day 
drew gradually nearer to them. At night we 
encamped in the foothills. The rocks were bare 
and of a black color, and the surrounding land- 
scape was wholly uninviting. Just beyond us the 
hills grew to mountains, which formed a 
seemingly endless range. 

“Do we climb those peaks ?” I asked the chief, 
as our followers prepared the camp. 

“There are passes between them, whicli we 
follow for two days,” he answered, briefly. 
Ketti told me they were the Hammemat 
146 


Across the Black Mountains 


Mountains, composed of a hard, dark stone called 
breccia, and that the ancient Egyptians had 
quarries here, using the stone to form their 
statues from. 

From this first night the native and American 
camps were separate. The Begas pitched low 
tents for our use, but on their side only one 
tent, for the use of Iva, was set up. The men, 
including the aged chief, when they slept simply 
rolled themselves in their ahayeh or ragged 
blankets and lay down upon the sand. 

Bryonia, having brought a couple of sacks 
of charcoal from Koser to use for fuel, managed 
to cook us a good supper. The Bega did no 
cooking, but satisfied their hunger with hard 
bread and dried goat’s flesh, washed down with 
a swallow or two of tepid water. We invited 
Gege-Merak and Iva to join us at our meal, 
but the chief curtly refused. 

‘T eat with my people,” he said. 

This action seemed to worry the Professor 
and his face grew anxious and thoughtful. 

'Tf Gege-Merak had broken bread with us, 
or eaten of our salt,” he remarked, ‘'we might 

147 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

have depended upon his faithfulness at all times. 
It is a rather suspicious circumstance, to my 
mind, that he refuses to join us.” 

‘‘I don't trust him at all,” said I. 

“Nor do I,” added Uncle Naboth. “Seemed 
to me, first time I spotted the rascal, that he 
was playin' a deep game. Don't you think it was 
foolish. Professor, to pay him all that money?” 

“Not at all. If we had refused to pay it he 
might have robbed us of it on the journey. Now 
he knows he can get nothing more from us until 
we return to the ship. That will be our salvation, 
I imagine. To get the balance of his payment 
he'll be sure to return.” 

“But he doesn't agree to bring us all back 
with him,” observed Archie, musingly. “He’ll 
be entitled to the money, just the same, if a few 
of us are killed.” 

“That matter,” said Ned Britton, grimly, “we 
must attend to ourselves. There are nine o' us 
to six o' them copperheads, for the girl don't 
count. So I guess they'll think twice afore they 
attacks us.” 

“I don't fear any open rupture,” replied 
148 


Across the Black Mountains 


Van Dorn, with a moody glance toward the Bega 
camp. “What we must guard against is 
treachery. If the chief had eaten with us I 
should have feared nothing ; but I know the ways 
of these Begas, and it will be best for us to set 
a guard every night while we sleep.’’ 

“Why, there’s nothing to murder us for at 
present,” I objected. “When we get the 
treasure, if we ever do, it will be another matter. 
Just now — 

“Jest now,” interrupted Uncle Naboth, “we’ll 
keep on the safe side and take the Perfessor’s 
hint. Snakes is snakes, an’ you can’t tell when 
they’re a-goin’ to strike. Let’s set a watch 
nights, from now on.” 

The suggestion was a reasonable one, and 
we determined to follow it. 


149 


CHAPTER X. 


DEEP IN THE DESERT SANDS. 

The second day’s journey was through wild 
passes of the Hammemat, among which we might 
easily have become bewildered and lost our way 
had not Gege-Merak’s knowledge of the 
mountains enabled him to guide us accurately. 
We passed an old Egyptian mine and, soon after, 
the quarries which they had abandoned cen- 
turies ago, and at evening came to the famous 
well of Bir-Hammemat, the curb of which is 
sixteen feet in diameter. Here we made our 
camp, and so wild was the spot that we kept 
a constant though secret watch throughout the 
night. The Bega, however, seemed to harbor 
no thoughts of treachery, and although they 
made their camp on the opposite side of the well 
from our own they neither by look nor action 
gave us cause to suspect their loyalty. 

We emerged among the foothills on the third 

150 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

day, and before noon passed a landmark in the 
way of an old Roman well, now dry and 
abandoned. It had once been a large cavity, 
walled up with huge layers of stone, and I 
imagined it must originally have been very deep, 
too, for even yet the rubbish in its bottom was 
a good fifteen feet from the curb. I glanced 
at the place carelessly enough as we passed, 
never dreaming of the tragedy soon to be enacted 
there. 

Pushing on at excellent speed we mounted 
more rocky hills, here composed of yellow and 
red Nubian sandstone and granite. Just at 
sundown we reached the Pass of Mutrok without 
incident. 

The Professor was excellently satisfied with 
our progress. 

“Four hours across the desert from here,” 
he told us at supper, “lies the small village of 
Laketa, which is but four hours more from 
Luxor. The treasure lies some two hours’ 
journey from Laketa, toward Karnak, and my 
plan is to halt at the village, when we reach 
it, and leave our native escort there, I can 

151 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

guide you myself from Laketa, so only the 
Americans shall go to the place where the 
treasure lies hid. We shall take with us the two 
extra camels, and when we rejoin the Bega 
we must keep these camels constantly with our 
party, and refuse to tell the chief or any of his 
followers what load they bear. This is a 
necessary precaution, I assure you. So far our 
journey has been uneventful, but once we have 
secured the treasure we must exercise exceptional 
caution and vigilance until we get it safely aboard 
the ship.’’ 

This was good and timely advice, we well . 
knew, and Van Dorn’s plan seemed practical 
enough. Before leaving the ship our sailmaker 
had prepared several large canvas bags for 
holding the treasure, and the Professor had 
brought along a supply of sealing-wax with which 
to seal up the treasure in the bags until it was 
delivered on board the ship and could be 
appraised and divided between us. According 
to his recollection of the cavity and its size Van 
Dorn judged that two camels would be ample 
to transport all its contents. 

152 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

During this third day the Bega had seemed 
to regard us with less friendly glances than 
before, and just as we dismounted at the camp 
an unpleasant incident occurred that for a time 
promised open rupture between us. 

One of the camels having gone lame during 
the afternoon, Iva had been transferred from 
her own beast to that of the chief, riding behind 
whom she finished the journey in no very 
comfortable manner. The girl, proud and 
reserved, speaking seldom and then only in 
monosyllables, seemed wholly out of place in this 
caravan of men, and we realized that the chief’s 
absurd superstition about her was responsible 
for much of her sullen behavior. 

Iva had ridden in a cramped position until 
her limbs were numbed, and as she slid off the 
kneeling camel she stumbled and fell awkwardly 
against the chief. In sudden rage Gege-Merak 
turned and struck her a blow on the side of her 
head, and the next instant he found himself 
tumbling headlong to the earth. For Archie had 
happened to stand near, and seeing the out- 
153 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

rageous act had bowled over the great Gege- 
Merak as coolly as if he had been a school-boy. 

Even before the chief could rise the Bega had 
sprung at us with drawn knives and leveled 
pistols ; but Gege-Merak, hearing their shout 
of rage, rolled over and held up an arm in 
warning. They slunk back, then, while Ketti 
assisted the ancient chief to his feet. He was 
unhurt, for his mummified- little form was tough 
as leather. Neither had Iva been much injured 
by the blow she had received, for she stood by 
quiet and submissive to all appearances. But 
I had caught a fierce gleam in her dark eyes that 
proved she secretly resented her brutal treatment. 
The sharp edge of one of her clumsy ear orna- 
ments had cut her cheek, and two or three tiny 
drops of blood trickled down her face; but this 
was unimportant. She well knew Gege-Merak 
would take good care not to seriously endanger 
her health or life, even in a fit of temper, as long 
as his superstition regarding her held sway. But 
a kick, a blow, or a bitter epithet was often her 
portion. 

This was not the end of the incident. After 

154 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

supper and during the brief Egyptian twilight 
Ketti came to us with a message from the chief. 
He asked us to kill Archie before morning and 
expose his body to be torn and devoured by the 
jackals, that the insult to Gege-Merak's dignity 
be avenged. 

We greeted the request with a roar of laughter, 
and Archie declared he would run across and 
punch the old fellow's nose for his impudence. 
Ketti, who was less a barbarian than any of his 
tribe, in our opinion, was still too dense to under- 
stand our answer until we said frankly that 
we fully approved what Archie had done and 
had no intention of punishing him. 

“Then," said the messenger, “you must deliver 
him to our chief, who will satisfy his vengeance 
according to our customs." 

“See here, Ketti," I replied; “you're a good 
fellow, and I'll explain to you our position. The 
poorest American is of higher rank than the most 
important Bega that lives, and your Gege-Merak 
is merely our servant, having accepted our pay. 
Aside from that, we Americans won't allow any 
woman of any race to be abused in our presence, 

155 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

and you might tell your wicked old chief that 
if he dares to touch the girl again while in our 
company, we’ll tie him up and horsewhip him.” 

Ketti listened to this speech with keen interest. 
Perhaps he secretly approved our stand, for his 
expression was thoughtful rather than angry. 

‘'Do not send this message by me, Effendi,” 
said he, in a low voice. “It will mean to fight, 
and that must not be — for we are friends.” 

“Are we, Ketti?” I inquired, doubtfully. 

“I am your friend,” answered the warrior, 
evasively. “But our chief is proud, for he is the 
father of all the Bega of Egypt, our tribe being 
the head tribe of our people, and the Arabs and 
Turks have taught us that the whites are but 
dogs, and have no rank. It will make danger 
for you to defy Gege-Merak tonight. Tell him 
you will punish the Archie-boy when you reach 
your ship, in your own way, which is to cut him 
in pieces and feed him to the fishes; once we 
knew a ship-sailor who did that and the promise 
will make Gege-Merak content.” 

“Very well, Ketti,” broke in the Professor, 
nervously; “deliver that or any other message 

156 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

you like, and we’ll remember your friendship 
when we get back to Koser. Say anything to 
your chief that will restore peace between us, for 
we must remain friends.” 

Ketti nodded understandingly and returned to 
his people. Doubtless he promised the old ruffian 
that we would take ample vengeance upon our 
companion, for we could hear his voice declaim- 
ing loudly our reply before all the tribesmen. 
Gege-Merak’s dignity was thus restored at little 
expense to us, and we heard no more of the 
matter. The incident, however, showed us that 
we stood in a delicate position and that our 
protective escort might at any moment become 
our most vindictive enemy. 

Next morning we slept late and resumed our 
journey at leisure. The Professor told the chief 
that we should not require his escort beyond the 
village of Laketa. He might remain there with 
his band and rest until we were ready to begin 
the return journey, probably upon the following 
day. Gege-Merak listened quietly and made no 
comment beyond saying that his people were 
our servants and that to hear was to obey — 

157 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

an Oriental figure of speech that meant nothing 
at all 

After leaving the mountains a series of low 
bleak hills had been encountered, and about the 
middle of this forenoon we reached the ruins of 
the old Roman hydrauma, or caravan station, 
long since abandoned. Three miles farther 
brought us within sight of Laketa, a small group 
of mud huts occupying an oasis which boasted 
two small wells and five palm trees. 

We were at the village before noon, and found 
ourselves greeted by a dozen Bisharin, men, 
women, and children. They were small, skinny 
people, naked except for a loin cloth, and having 
bushy hair saturated with foul smelling grease. 
The Bisharin claim kinship to the Bega nation, 
but are much inferior in physique or intelligence 
to the Ababdeh who formed our escort. They 
are great thieves, as are all these gypsy Bedouins, 
but, too cowardly to fight in the open, they 
prefer to creep upon their victims unobserved 
and stick a knife or short spear into their backs. 

These natives of Laketa, however, lived so 
near to Luxor and civilization that they had lost 
158 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

much of their native fierceness and were a cowed 
and humble group. They welcomed Gege-Merak 
joyously, knowing him as a great chief ; but they 
stood more in awe of us than they did of their 
visiting allies. The Professor assured us that 
we had nothing to fear from them. He had often 
been to this village with Lovelace, during the 
time they were engaged upon their tedious search 
for the treasure, and the Bicharin knew him and 
treated the little ‘Ted-beard’’ with profound 
respect. 

We made our camp beside one of the wells, 
while our escort encamped beside the other, 
situated on the opposite side of the group of huts. 
During the afternoon we rested from the fatigue 
of our journey and perfected our plans, canvass- 
ing all matters of detail in the presence of our 
entire party, so that every man, even to black 
Bry, might understand exactly what our 
intentions were and what work would probably 
be required of them. 

We informed Gege-Merak that we should ride 
that evening to a place near Luxor, where the 
Professor would gather his belongings and pack 

159 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

them on the two extra camels. Most of us would 
return during the night or at daybreak ; all would 
again be assembled at the oasis by noon, when 
the return journey would be begun. We should 
camp the next night at our old station in the 
mountain pass, which could easily be reached 
before dark. 

It was all simple and easily understood, and 
the chief appeared to be satisfied with the 
arrangement. We had an early supper and at 
sundown our band of Americans departed, taking 
the direction of Luxor and using as a landmark 
the low hill called Tel-Ambra, lying southward 
of the village. The Bega gathered in a silent 
group to watch us move slowly over the desert, 
but night soon fell and they must have shortly 
lost sight of us in the gloom. 

The Professor knew this territory by heart. 
There was no moon, and even the stars lacked 
their usual brilliance because of fleecy clouds that 
moved swiftly across the sky — an unusual sight 
in Egypt. Such clouds, when they appear, 
contain no moisture, but are what are called 
‘‘smoke clouds.’^ There was plenty of light to 
i6o 


Deeo in the Desert Sands 


guide us, however, so the Professor was sure 
of his route. 

In an hour and a half we passed around the 
base of Tel-Ambra, which is a barren rock 
cropping out of the desert, some twenty feet in its 
highest part and about half a mile in circum- 
ference. Skirting this rock we turned abruptly 
to the north, altering our course decidedly, for 
our first direction was only undertaken to deceive 
the Bega. 

Thirty minutes of this northerly course brought 
us in sight of a group of three straggling palms 
which showed like black streaks against the sky; 
but now the Professor called a sudden halt, and 
I could hear him storming and cursing in low 
but tense tones as he sat his camel and glanced 
around him observantly. 

“What’s wrong, sir?” I asked, coming to his 
side. 

“That scoundrelly Arab, Abdul Hashlm, has 
rebuilt his village,” he answered, with evident 
chagrin. “The police tore down every wall and 
scattered the stones far and wide; but here they 

i6i 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

are piled up again to form houses, and even the 
roofs of some are newly thatched.” 

He pointed away to the left, and the stars 
being bright at the time I had no trouble in 
perceiving that we had halted a few hundred 
yards from a native village. But it was black 
and seemed deserted. 

“What does it matter?” I asked, impatiently. 
“We can surely keep away from Abdul Hashim 
and his people until morning, and by that time 
we ought to have gained possession of the 
treasure.” 

The Professor shook his head, doubtfully; but 
he gave the command to march and we hurried 
away from this dangerous vicinity and 
approached the group of palms. The feet of the 
camels made no noise on the desert sands and our 
people were all too anxious and intent upon the 
adventure to speak unnecessarily ; so like shadows 
we passed through the shifting and ghostly light 
that reached us from the stars, and soon gained 
our destination. 

I had often wondered, in thinking upon the 
subject, how the Professor would be again 
162 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

enabled to locate with any degree of accuracy 
the buried treasure, situated as it was in a barren 
spot where the sand drove over it with every 
breeze. So now I watched him curiously as he 
dismounted at the palms and, drawing a line 
from one of the trees to another, seemed to pick 
out a star straight ahead to guide him and began 
pacing his way regularly over the desert. He 
gained an absolute regularity of pace in an 
amusing and ingenious, yet simple manner, 
attaching a cord from one of his ankles to the 
other, after carefully measuring its length. 
Consequently all his paces were mathematically 
equal, or could vary but slightly. 

The rest of us followed him silently. I tried 
at first to count the number of paces, but from 
my high seat presently lost track of the count. 
But I had no idea it would matter to us; we 
should never be likely to visit this weird spot a 
second time. 

At last the Professor came to a sudden halt 
and held up his hand. We leaped from our 
camels without waiting for them to kneel and 
two of our sailors promptly produced shovels 
163 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

from their panniers and began to dig in the spot 
the Professor indicated. They worked with 
steady industry, you may be sure, and we took 
turns relieving them at the task, for shoveling 
sand is by no means an easy job. 

After going a certain depth without finding the 
granite slab we began making our pit wider, and 
within an hour a shovel wielded by Bryonia 
bounded back with a metallic sound that told 
us the search had finally been successful. 

While the men quickly cleared away the 
remaining sand, disclosing three bronze rings 
imbedded in an oblong slab of granite, I could 
not help marveling at the Professor’s cleverness 
in locating the spot so accurately after several 
weeks of absence. 

^Tt is a matter of simple mathematics,” he 
explained, while he watched the sand fly with 
eager eyes. ‘‘The only thing that could interfere 
with my calculations would be the removal of 
the palm trees. But I did not fear that, as they 
are centuries old.” 

The big stone was now cleared of sand. The 
three sailors and Ned Britton stooped and put 
164 


Deep in the Desert Sands 

their shoulders to the slab, raising the ponderous 
weight slowly but surely until it stood upright 
on its edge. Then the Professor knelt down and 
with nervous haste threw out the padding of 
dried rushes and the thick layers of rotted 
mummy cloth that covered the contents of the 
vault. 

Now, more gently, he began removing a 
number of bandaged cylinders, something like 
eighteen inches long and six inches in diameter. 
These, I supposed, were the rolls of papyrus bark 
that told the history of that dark period of Egypt 
between the Sixth and Twelfth Dynasties. From 
the tenderness with which Van Dorn handled 
these rolls — which he rewrapped in new canvas, 
sealed securely and then handed to Ned to be 
placed in one of the panniers — I had no doubt 
he considered them the most valuable and impor- 
tant part of the treasure. There were sixteen 
rolls; all of them, according to our bargain, Van 
Dorn^s personal property. After these had been 
cared for the Professor threw aside another 
layer of bandages and then, at last, the more 

165 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

tangible wealth of the powerful priests of Karnak 
was revealed to our wondering eyes. 

Under the dim stars we could see the sparkle 
of many rich jewels and the gleam of a vast store 
of golden vases, exquisitely worked; of many 
chains, bracelets and other ornaments; of pearls 
and precious stones. Indeed, the pit seemed full 
of the queer and valuable things. 

Van Dorn did not pause an instant to admire 
this gorgeous sight. He took one of the canvas 
sacks which Ned handed him and began filling 
it with the jewels. It was difficult to see just 
what they were, but the Professor took all that 
came to his hand and soon had filled the sack. 
He tied its mouth securely and brought out his 
sealing wax. When he lighted a match to melt 
the wax its rays illumined the pit, and I drew 
a deep breath of wonder at the splendor that met 
my eyes. 

‘‘Ah ; treasure said a soft voice beside me. 

Startled, we all sprang up at the words and 
found squatting beside the pit the form of the 
withered Bega chief, Gege-Merak. 

i66 


CHAPTER XL 


TAKING CHANCES. 

The Professor gave a cry of positive terror, 
and before it was well out of his throat Ned 
Britton had made a leap and pinioned the chief 
to the ground with the weight of his huge form. 

We were all greatly startled; and dismayed, 
as well, for it seemed that in spite of all our 
precautions Gege-Merak had spied upon us and 
the secret of the treasure now extended to him — 
the most uncomfortable confederate, from our 
standpoint, we could possibly have gained. 
Already an enemy, and more powerful in this 
country, his own, than we were ; animated by the 
unscrupulous cupidity of his race and reckless — 
as his people are — of any consequences that 
follow lawless acts, Gege-Merak was the last 
person we would have chosen to share our impor- 
tant secret. The worst feature of the whole 
matter was that we ourselves were defying the 
167 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

laws of Egypt in stealthily removing this vast 
hoard, hidden by Egyptian priests long before 
the present rulers had ever set foot in the land. 
If the government suspected our act we should 
all be summarily imprisoned. 

No doubt the Bega chief knew very well our 
predicament, and that we could not appeal to the 
authorities whatever injury he might inflict upon 
us; so he would be inclined to fight us for the 
possession of the treasure, if any dependence 
could be placed upon the native character. If we 
tried to compromise, then a large share of our 
find must go to Gege-Merak; but he was not 
likely to be satisfied with a little. 

These thoughts doubtless flashed across every 
mind in the pause that followed Ned's capture 
of the spy. I know, anyway, that they passed 
rapidly through my own mind, and appalled me. 

Two of the sailors had sprung forward to assist 
the mate, and now they produced several lengths 
of cord from their pockets — every sailor carries 
such things — and the chief was soon fast bound 
and laid upon the sand a few paces away. One 
l6a 


Taking Chances 

of the sailors was left sitting beside him as a 
guard. 

While the Professor nervously continued to 
fill the canvas bags from the pit and to seal each 
one securely, we counselled together in whispers 
as to the best method of dealing with Gege- 
Merak. The sailors and Bryonia loaded the sacks 
into the panniers of the camels, which were 
strongly woven of rushes, as fast as they were 
filled and sealed, and ^ill the pit seemed to 
contain as many jewels and precious stones as had 
been removed. We began to tremble with a 
realization of the hugeness of the treasure, and 
to understand that in spite of our ample provision 
to carry it, some must be left behind. But that 
meant turning it over to the chief, who now 
knew its location, unless 

‘‘Gege-Merak must die!'' growled the little 
Professor, through his teeth. His face was pale 
and his eyes were glittering with excitement. 

Some of us breathed deeply; but none made 
reply in words. I dreaded the necessity as much 
as any one could, but saw clearly that the chiefs 
death was inevitable. It meant not only our 
J69 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

protection, but perhaps our salvation. We were 
now burdened with too vast a store of wealth 
to be safe on the desert for a single moment, 
if Gege-Merak was to be at large to dog our steps. 

We now implored the Professor to return the 
papyrus rolls to the cavity and take instead more 
of the treasure ; but Van Dorn obstinately refused. 

“It is my own share, and you have agreed 
I should take it,” said he. “There are millions 
in gold and precious gems, besides; isn’t that 
enough to satisfy you?” 

“But this may be our last chance at the 
treasure,” replied Uncle Naboth, anxiously. 

The Professor gave him a queer look. It 
seemed defiant and half threatening, but 
a moment later he dropped his head to resume his 
work. 

“That’s nonsense,” he snapped, wrathfully. 
“The stuff has lain here for ages, and what 
we now leave will remain in safety until we can 
come again — unless we give Gege-Merak a chance 
to grab it. We mustn’t do that, gentlemen. 
If the chief lives he will never allow us to reach 
the ship again ; you may be sure of that. WeVe 
170 


Taking Chances 

had evidence already of his grasping disposition. 
It's our lives against his, now, and we must not 
hesitate to save ourselves.” 

'‘Bring the chief here, Cunningham,” called 
Uncle Naboth, peering through the gloom where 
our sailor sat upon the sand guarding his prisoner. 

Cunningham did not move, and Uncle Naboth 
called again. Then Joe ran across to him, bent 
over, and gave a cry that raised us all to our 
feet in an instant. 

"The man’s dead !” he shouted. "Gege-Merak 
is gone !” 

It was true enough. The wily chief had 
managed to slip his bonds and plunge a knife 
to the heart of his unsuspecting guard before 
he crawled away into the night and escaped. 

We were horrified at the disaster. Our fears 
had now become realities, and as we looked 
gravely into one another’s eyes under the dim 
stars we realized that our lives were in deadly 
peril. 

"You’re a lot of clods — of duffers — of fools!” 
screamed the Professor, stamping the ground 
in furious rage. "You deserve to die for being 
171 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

SO clumsy; you deserve to lose the treasure you 
are not clever enough to guard! Bah! to think 
I have leagued myself with idiots !” 

Archie grabbed him by the shoulder and gave 
him a good shaking. 

‘"Shut up, you red-whiskered ape!'’ he said, 
menacingly. ‘^Keep a civil tongue in your head, 
or ril skin you alive !” 

We were all irritated and unnerved, and I 
tried to quiet both Archie and Van Dorn, and to 
bring them to a more reasonable frame of mind. 

‘*It's no use crying over spilt milk," said 
I. “Let’s face the peril like men, and do our best 
to get the treasure safely to the ship. Even 
if Gege-Merak gets the rest, we have a fortune 
already.’’ 

“He’ll get that, too,’’ groaned the Professor. 
“The chief has more cunning than the whole 
crowd of you.’’ 

The two camels were now heavily loaded with 
the sealed canvas sacks containing the treasure 
and the library of historic papyri. We next 
strapped the four panniers to the two beasts — 
one on either side of each camel — and Van Dorn 
172 


Taking Chances 

with the remainder of his wax smeared the 
buckles so that if the panniers were opened or 
tampered with we should speedily know the fact. 
He did not trust us wholly, it seemed, nor did 
we fully trust him. The man had been acting 
ugly of late, and the fact that we had no chance 
to examine any of the treasure we had so quickly 
thrust into the sacks made it necessary that the 
seals remain intact until we could open them 
in safety and in each other's presence. 

Having now secured all of the ancient deposit 
of wealth that we could carry, we held a solemrt 
conference to determine our future movements. 
The Professor, who had calmed down somewhat 
but was still sullen, admitted that with proper 
caution we might find our way back to Koser 
over the same route by which we had come. The 
only puzzling part of the trail was that which 
lay through the intricate passes of the Hamme- 
mat mountains, and we were willing to chance 
finding the right path because we had no option 
but to undertake the risk. From being our guide 
Gege-Merak had now become our most dreaded 
foe. We were better armed than the chief's 
73 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

band, and outnumbered it, although three of our 
party were only boys. Aside from an ambush 
or an unexpected addition to the chief’s party 
we might hope to hold our own against him 
in a declared warfare. 

If we could have started at once on our return 
journey our chances of reaching the Seagull 
in safety might have been better; but it was 
necessary for Archie to visit Luxor and deliver 
his father’s goods to the merchants who had 
ordered them, and to receive payment on delivery. 
This necessitated a delay which could not 
be avoided even under the present trying 
circumstances. 

Van Dorn assured us that by morning we 
could plainly see the outlines of Karnak and 
Luxor across the desert, and he said the journey 
could be made in three hours. If Archie started 
at daybreak he could reach Luxor in time for 
breakfast and by concluding his business as soon 
as possible ought to be able to rejoin our party 
by noon. 

But Archie did not relish going alone upon 
this mission, and I had grown to like the young 


Taking Chances 

fellow so well that I offered to accompany him. 
It was decided all of us should move around the 
base of Tel-Ambra, after concealing every trace 
of our visit to the pit, and there encamp to await 
our return from Luxor. 

We had to bury poor Cunningham in the sand ; 
but we dug him a deep grave and wrapped him 
in two blankets in lieu of a proper coffin. The 
stone having been dropped to cover the cavity 
and the sand piled in and smoothed above it, we 
marched across to Tel-Ambra and came to a halt 
well on the other side of it. Here we speedily 
made camp and appointed Bryonia and Ned 
Britton to watch while we lay down to sleep. 

I was so excited by the occurrences of the night 
that I could not compose myself to slumber for 
some time, but lay awake and watched Van 
Dorn, who, also restless, paced up and down 
in the sands apparently in deep thought. He had 
grown moody and unsociable, and since his 
violent exhibition of temper I had come to dislike 
him more than ever. 

When dawn came creeping over the desert 
I sprang up and aroused Archie. The others 

175 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

were mostly awake, I found, and while we 
munched a little food Joe came to me and begged 
to travel to Luxor in our company. 

Ned Britton, who had now assumed military 
command of our party, thought there would 
be no greater danger to the others and more 
safety to Archie and me if Joe accompanied us; 
so Uncle Naboth’s consent was obtained and 
we three mounted our camels and set off at 
a brisk pace toward Luxor, the outlines of which 
city the Professor pointed out. 

The morning air of the desert was crisp and 
invigorating, and so fresh were our camels that 
in two and a half hours we reached the Karnak 
road and soon after clattered into the streets 
of Luxor. 

It is an odd town, a mingling of the modern 
and ancient. On the bank of the Nile stands the 
ruin of the great temple so famous in history, 
its many rows of lotus-capped columns rising 
toward the sky in magnificent array. Beside the 
monster temple is a litter of mud huts; across 
the way is the wall surrounding the fine modern 
Hotel Luxor, and against this wall on all sides 
176 


Taking Chances 

are rows of booths occupied by the Greek, 
Syrian, and Arab merchants as bazars. 

When we arrived and inquired for the mer- 
chants with whom Archie was to deal, we found 
their shops still closed ; so we entered the grounds 
of the hotel, left our camels at the stables, hired 
a dray to fetch Archie's boxes from the railway 
station, and then treated ourselves to a good 
breakfast served in civilized fashion. By the 
time it was finished the boxes were waiting in 
a cart outside, and the merchants, we found, had 
arrived at their shops and were anxious to 
examine the goods. 

We realized the necessity of making haste and 
so accepted the invitation of a Syrian dealer 
to open our boxes in a big vacant room back 
of his bazar. We admitted only the two men 
who had ordered the goods, although a group 
of curious natives wished to enter with us, and 
soon Archie, Joe, and I had the cases open and 
the goods spread out for examination. 

The Syrian and his fellow merchant, a gray- 
bearded Greek, gravely inspected and approved 
the clever imitations of ancient scarabs, charms, 
177 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

figures, urns, and the like, that had been ‘‘made 
in America” to deceive American tourists in 
Egypt; but when Archie demanded to be paid 
the price agreed upon they both demurred, 
claiming the trinkets were not worth the sum 
asked. 

Archie was indignant and threatened to box 
up the goods again and ship them to Cairo ; and 
then began the inevitable bargaining that is so 
tedious but necessary in dealing with the 
Egyptians. 

While my friend, who proved no unskillful 
bargainer, was engaged in this occupation 
I chanced to glance toward the one dirty window 
in the place and saw a man standing outside who 
instantly riveted my attention. He was tall and 
stately, with a calm, handsome face and steady 
eyes, and while he gazed in upon us it suddenly 
flashed across me that I had seen this Arab before 
— standing on the quay at Alexandria and staring 
at the Seagull as we had sailed out of the harbor. 

Yes; it was indeed Abdul Hashim, the Pro- 
fessor’s most bitter enemy; and as this fact was 
revealed to me I remembered the peril of our 
178 


Taking Chances 

friends awaiting us on the desert and turned 
impatiently to Archie to ask him to hasten. 

As I spoke the eyes of the Arab outside turned 
toward mine and, perhaps seeing my glance of 
recognition, he turned and disappeared. 

“Archie,” I said in a low voice, “for heaven’s 
sake end this squabbling. Too much depends 
on our prompt return to quarrel over a few 
beastly piasters.” 

He seemed to realize this, for he quickly closed 
with the offers of the merchants and they paid 
him the sum he had agreed to take in English 
bank notes and gold. While the money was 
being counted out I saw Abdul Hashim again 
at the window, his greedy eyes feasting upon the 
money; and this made me more nervous than 
before. I quickly made my way outside and 
moved around to the window, but the Arab had 
disappeared and I failed to find him in any of the 
neighboring streets. 

I told Archie and Joe of my discovery, and 
that Abdul Hashim had seen us receive the 
money. The tale alarmed my friends, but after 
a moment’s thought Archie decided what to do. 

179 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

We went at once to Cook's banking office, which 
was in the hotel building, and there Archie 
exchanged his gold and notes for a draft on the 
bank’s American correspondents, for the full 
amount. The paper he placed in his stocking, 
flat on the sole of his foot, and then he drew 
on his boot with a sigh of relief. 

*Tf it is stolen,” said he, “no one can cash 
it but my father; but I’d like to see the Arab 
or Bega clever enough to find the draft where 
I’ve hidden it. Come on, boys; we’re free now; 
so let’s hurry back to our party and the 
treasure.” 

The camels had been watered and fed by the 
hotel attendants, and we hastened to mount them 
and start on our return journey. As we left the 
town it was a little after eleven o’clock, for much 
valuable time had been consumed ,in settling 
Archie’s business. 

“But it’s what I came to Egypt for,” said 
he, “and father would be wild if I neglected the 
business he sent me on, even to get a share of that 
treasure. As it is I’m afraid he’ll think me a poor 
i8o 


Taking Chances 

hand at a bargain, to take less than was agreed 
upon.” 

‘There's no trusting to the word of these 
native merchants,” I remarked, as we sped a way- 
over the sands. “How much did you manage 
to get for that rubbish, Archie?” 

“About twenty-five hundred dollars. But 
I ought to have had three thousand.” 

“And what did it cost to make the stuff?” 
I inquired, curiously. 

“Oh, the material is mostly mud, you know; 
but the molds and the workmanship are expensive. 
With the freight and my own expenses added, 
the finished product cost us nearly nine hundred 
dollars.” 

“Not a bad deal, then,” said I, with a laugh. 
“Your father will find himself a bit richer, 
anyhow.” 

“But think of what those rascally merchants 
will make!” he exclaimed indignantly. “The 
scarabs, which cost them about half a cent each, 
they’ll sell for twenty piasters — and that’s a 
whole dollar!” 

i8i 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“Say, boys,’' observed Joe, quietly, “we’re 
being followed.” 

We turned quickly in our saddles at this 
startling news, and a glance told us Joe was 
right. Coming toward us in a cloud of dust, 
from the direction of Luxor, were several camels 
and donkeys. Already they were near enough 
for us to see that they were ridden by a band 
of Arabs, who were urging the animals to their 
best speed. 

We pricked up our camels with the sharpened 
sticks provided for that purpose, and with groans 
of protest the supple beasts threw out their hoofs 
and fairly flew over the sands. 


CHAPTER XII. 


ABDUL HASHIM EXPLAINS. 

Far ahead we could see the outlines of Tel- 
Ambra standing clear against the blue sky, and 
toward this we headed, for our friends would 
be there awaiting us. 

Our pursuers also redoubled their pace, and 
it became a set race in which only the endurance 
of our animals was of importance. The camels 
we rode were among the best of Gege-Merak’s 
herd, and we saw with satisfaction that they 
could easily keep the distance between ourselves 
and the Arabs. 

Gradually the mound grew nearer and we 
strained our eyes to discover Uncle Naboth and 
his party, who should be near its base. Perhaps 
they were on the other side, and had not observed 
our approach. The quick pace was beginning 
to tell on our camels, which all breathed heavily ; 

183 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

but on we dashed at full speed, for the remaining 
distance was short. 

We reached the base of the hill, skirted it 
without slacking rein, and then with a sense of 
dismay realized that we were alone upon the 
desert — save for that grim and relentless band 
following in our wake. 

Uncle Naboth, the Professor, Ned Britton, the 
sailors and Bry — even the camels with the 
treasure — had all been swallowed up by the 
myterious waste of sands. 

And now we three boys, left to our fate, must 
show the mettle we were made of. We halted 
our panting camels, backed them against a rocky 
cliff of Tel-Ambra, and hastily unslung our 
repeating rifles. 

‘"Don’t let us be captured without a struggle, 
boys,” I exclaimed. 

“We’ll fight while there’s a bullet left or a 
breath in us,” responded Archie, promptly. 

“All right, fellows, if you say so,” said Joe, 
strapping on his cartridge belt; “but it seems 
to me you’re making a mistake.” 

“How so?” I asked, rather indignantly. 

184 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

‘‘Look at them/’ said Joe. The Arabs had 
halted just out of range, but we could count their 
numbers now. “There are about twenty of the 
rascals, and they’re all armed. We can’t hope 
to beat them in a fight. We can kill a few, of 
course, but they’ll down us in the end. And 
what then ? Why, they’ll be mad as hornets, and 
want revenge. It’s natural. But as it now stands 
we are not the enemies of these heathens, as I can 
see, having had no dealings with them. I under- 
stand they want to rob us, for they think we’ve 
got the money those merchants paid Archie — that 
beast Abdul Hashim is at the head of them. But 
if we submit quietly to being searched they won’t 
find any money and they’ll scarcely dare kill 
us for disappointing them.” 

“I don’t know about that,” said Archie, eyeing 
the foe fiercely. “I’ve heard Van Dorn say these 
Arabs will kill a Christian as calmly as they’ll eat 
a dinner. They think a good Mahommedan will 
gain paradise by killing an infidel dog. And 
besides that, if they try to rob us and then let 
us go our ways, they’ll be afraid we will make 
trouble for them with the police. No, Joe; it’s 

185 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

robbery they mean first, and murder afterward; 
you can rely upon that/’ 

‘‘Maybe so, sir,” answered Joe. “But I was 
just looking for our one chance. To fight means 
sure death; to give in quietly means a hope for 
life — not a great hope, sir, but one just big 
enough to hang your hat on. If you say fight, 
I’m with you. If you say be foxy and try 
diplomacy. I’ll like it better.” 

“Humph !” said I, partly convinced. “Perhaps 
Joe’s right.” 

“I’m sure he is,” responded Archie, frankly. 
“But I hate to see those beggars down us so 
easily.” 

“Discretion is the better part of valor,” 
I quoted, pompously ; yet I longed to fight, too. 

“We aren’t giving in, fellows,” declared Joe; 
“we’re just playing our best cards in the game, 
and it isn’t our fault if we don’t hold all trumps. 
Come on; don’t let’s act like cowards, or even 
whipped curs. Let’s go to meet them — and, say, 
put up your rifles. We won’t show any force, 
but try to smile and look pleasant.” 

The Arabs had been conversing together, 

i86 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

evidently trying to decide how to attack us. They 
knew if they came within range of our rifles some 
of them would be shot down, and since they now 
had us safely snared they might take time to 
figure out the problem. 

Had there been any hope of our overtaking 
our friends I should have advised keeping the 
Arabs at bay as long as possible. But as far 
as the eye could reach, in every direction, the 
desert was deserted save by the two groups at 
Tel-Ambra. What, I questioned, anxiously, 
could have induced my uncle and Ned Britton 
to desert us? Such an act was wholly unlike 
them, and there must indeed have been a powerful 
reason behind it. At present it was all a profound 
mystery to us, and we had no time to make 
an attempt to unravel the web. 

Thinking Joe’s counsel good, in the circum- 
stances, we started our camels and advanced 
leisurely toward the Arabs. They were startled 
at first, expecting a fight; then, as they saw our 
rifles slung over our shoulders, they became 
puzzled by our audacity and amazed at our bold- 
ness. But they stood in a motionless group 
187 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

awaiting our approach, and as we drew near to 
them I, being slightly in advance of the other two, 
said in a voice which I strove to render calm : 

‘‘Good day, gentlemen. Can you tell us the 
way to the village of Laketa? Tm afraid weVe 
missed the trail.'' 

The Arabs looked at us stupidly a moment, and 
then Abdul Hashim spurred his donkey — 
a strong, thin limbed beast — toward me and 
touched his turban. His gesture indicated re- 
spect, but his steady eyes were as unfathomable 
as a pool at midnight. 

“The blessing of Allah be thine, Effendi," said 
he. “What is your errand at Laketa ?" 

“To rejoin the rest of our party," I answered 
confidently. 

“Ah, yes; your party from the ship, with the 
red-bearded jackal Van Dorn at their head," 
he said, with a flash of resentment as he men- 
tioned the Professor. 

“You are wrong in one thing," said I, calmly. 
“Naboth Perkins, my uncle, heads the party." 

“Why try to deceive us, Effendi?" asked 
Abdul Hashim, in a sterner tone, “You take 
i88 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

me for a fool, it seems; and a fool I am not. 
You would not be here — you could not be here 
— unless led by the red-beard, who is a dog and 
a traitor to his masters.’’ 

‘‘I don’t answer for Van Dorn,” I replied, 
with a shrug. ‘‘It seems you know the Professor, 
and don’t like him; but I’m sure that is none 
of our business. All we ask of you is the favor 
of a courteous direction to Laketa. If you will 
not give this, we must proceed without it, and 
find the place the best way we can.” 

I had observed that as we conversed the band 
of Arabs had crept around our group, slowly 
encircling us in all directions, so that now they 
fairly hemmed us in. Also their long rifles were 
in their hands and their belts were stuck full 
of pistols and knives. The party had been formed 
for warfare, without a doubt. 

Although noting all this I endeavored to 
appear unconcerned as I awaited the sheik’s 
reply. 

The latter smiled rather grimly and said : 

“We will indeed be your guides, young sirs; 
but not to Laketa. Forgive me if I ask for your 
189 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

companionship until you have told us all I wish 
to know.’* 

‘‘And what is that, Abdul Hashim?” I asked 
boldly. 

“You know my name?” 

“Of course. We knocked you down that 
evening we rescued Van Dorn from your clutches 
in Alexandria, and he told us your history. The 
Professor wanted us to kill you ; but we refused. 
Perhaps you remember that?” 

“I remember that I owe my life to my own 
skill, and not to your mercy.” He expressed 
himself in excellent English, for an Arab. But 
the English have occupied Egypt for so long that 
nearly all the natives have learned to speak or at 
least understand our language. 

“You have not told me what it is that you wish 
to know,” I said, impatiently. 

He looked me over with a thoughtful expres- 
sion and proceeded to examine each of my 
comrades, in turn. Then he said, abruptly : 

“You will come to my village.” 

At once the Arabs began to move forward, and ‘ 
we, being surrounded, were forced to accompany 
190 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

them. They were an evil appearing lot, dirty 
and hungry looking, and I did not doubt that any 
one of them would murder us with much 
satisfaction, merely for the pleasure of killing. 

As for Abdul Hashim himself, I began to 
perceive he was a character, and one worth 
studying in other circumstances. Never have 
I seen more handsome features on any man, but 
they were as immobile as if carved from marble. 
Any expression you might read showed in his 
eyes, which he could not control so well as he did 
his face. Usually they were calm as those of the 
sphinx, but at times they flashed evilly — nay, even 
with a gleam of madness in them — and always 
they were cruel and terrible in their aspect. In 
civilized countries a man like this would 
be greatly dreaded; here he was an insignificant 
sheik, with a handful of followers too degraded 
to be of any importance. 

We passed around Tel-Ambra to the left and 
headed for the small group of rude stone huts 
which the Professor had sighted the night before 
and had aroused in him such violent emotions. 
The place was not far distant from the three 
191 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

ancient palms, and as we rode along I glanced 
over the desert to try to discover the spot where 
the treasure was hid; but the endless, undulating 
sands refused to reveal their secret. Indeed, the 
brisk morning breeze appeared to have smoothed 
away every trace of our night’s work. 

Abdul Hashim said little until we reached his 
village, which had hastily been rebuilt after the 
police had demolished it. Even before then 
it must have been a miserable affair; now it was 
scarce worthy the name of village, or suitable for 
mortal habitation. Doubtless the only object 
of a settlement at this place was to waylay 
travelers who crossed the desert from the Red 
Sea, and I could conjecture without much chance 
of going wrong that robbery had been the only 
means of livelihood for its inhabitants. 

Entering a narrow street we were told to 
dismount in front of the most important hovel the 
place contained. We obeyed because we could not 
well do otherwise. Abdul Hashim personally 
ushered us into the dwelling, and as we entered 
the Arabs slily cut the straps of our rifles and 
took the weapons from us. We dared not resent 
192 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

this insult, but though we made no protest in 
words we were angry enough when we turned 
to face the sheik, who alone had entered with us. 

The room consisted of four bare stone walls of 
uneven height, only a portion of the inclosed 
space being roofed or thatched with palm 
branches. Slabs and blocks of stone lay around 
in all directions, as if the work of restoring the 
walls was still incomplete. In one corner a black 
goat with a white spot over one eye lay asleep 
in the shade, and a rude bed of palm leaves stood 
underneath the thatch. 

“Now,"’ began our captor, in a brusk tone, 
‘let us come to an understanding, if you will. You 
giddn * must tell me all that I wish to know, or I 
will put you to sleep forever. But first I will 
tell you what I already know. It is this: The 
red-bearded jackal you call Van Dorn was 
formerly the slave of a wise explorer named 
Lovelace Pasha, who was my friend. Lovelace 
Pasha sought for buried treasure in the desert, 
and I gave him my assistance in return for his 


*Boy3 — young men. 

193 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

promise to give me and my people a share of the 
treasure, if he found where it lay. This Lovelace 
was a real effendi — a gentleman — and always 
to Abdul Hashim a true friend. 

‘‘One night he found the treasure, and with 
him at the time were two of my tribe — one being 
my own brother — and the slave Van Dorn. 
Lovelace Pasha took a few jewels and started 
to return to my village, but the discovery had 
driven Van Horn mad. He shot my men and 
killed them, and would have shot Lovelace 
Pasha had he not caught and held the red-beard 
and wrenched the pistol from his grasp. So my 
friend bound Van Dorn with ropes and brought 
him to my village, with the sad news of the crime 
he had committed. Also Lovelace Pasha showed 
me the jewels which he had taken, and said there 
was much treasure to divide and that I should 
have my share according to the compact, as I had 
been faithful to him. 

“My people, giddn, do not take vengeance upon 
those whom Allah has smitten with madness; 
so we did no harm to Van Dorn. Lovelace Pasha 
declared the fellow was without mind or reason, 

194 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

but offered to care for him until the morning, 
as he did not fear him. So he took him into his 
house and my village went to sleep. 

‘In the morning we found that another great 
crime had been committed. Van Dorn had 
broken his bonds, stabbed Lovelace Pasha to the 
heart, robbed him of the jewels, and escaped to 
Luxor. With him he carried the secret of where 
the treasure lay hid, and too late we gained the 
knowledge that the red-beard was not mad, 
as one without reason, but merely mad to gain all 
the treasure for himself and willing to kill and 
defy all who stood in the way of his gaining the 
vast store his master had discovered. For, mark 
the cunning of the miserable thief, Effendi: this 
Van Dorn told the police that I and my people 
had murdered the great Lovelace Pasha, and the 
governor, believing him, sent a strong force 
to my village and destroyed it, declaring me and 
all my tribe outlaws. 

“Thus did the jackal add to his crimes and 
prove he was not afflicted of Allah, but by the 
devil of the Christians. And, tell me, would 
a Christian, even, love him after this ? 

19s 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

‘‘I followed him secretly to Alexandria and 
with some friends to assist me was about to cap- 
ture Van Dorn and make him lead us where the 
treasure is hid, when he cried out in fear and 
your party came to his rescue. Again he escaped 
me, for you took him aboard your ship and sailed 
away. I watched you, and feared that my 
revenge and the secret of the treasure were both 
lost to me. Then I remembered the jackal’s 
slyness, and knew that some time he would return 
to secure the wealth that was hid in the sands 
near to my village. So I came home to watch 
for him, yet I did not expect him to act so soon. 
In Luxor I saw you and recognized the fact that 
you belonged to the ship in which Van Dorn had 
sailed away. They told me you had ridden your 
camels in from the desert, therefore I knew you 
had followed the trail from the Red Sea. It was 
all plain enough, with a little thought. I got 
my men together and followed you, as you 
know.” 

The sheik paused. He had spoken earnestly 
and well, and his story bewildered us because 
we had until now believed in the plausible tale 
196 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

the Professor had told us. If Abdul Hashim’s 
relation was true the little Professor was indeed 
a diabolical scoundrel; and I had a secret con- 
viction that a part of it, at least , was to be 
believed rather than Van Dorn's version. But 
was not Abdul Hashim also a scoundrel and 
thief ? You had but to look at the fellow to doubt 
that there was an honest hair in his head. 
Privately I decided that neither was entitled to 
any share of Lovelace's find; but however the 
original discoverer had been done to death a bit- 
ter feud had undoubtedly sprung up between Van 
Dorn and the Arab — both eager to profit by 
Lovelace Pasha's murder. 

‘Tell me," resumed the sheik, abruptly, “where 
is your ship — at Koser?" 

I nodded. 

“And you came over the caravan route 
through the mountains?" 

I nodded again. 

“Perhaps, then, yon know when the jackal 
will try to secure the treasure?" the sheik con- 
tinued, eyeing me intently. 

I decided there was little harm in being frank 
197 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

with the man. He knew there was a treasure 
and that Van Dorn was after it and would not 
rest till he got it. So it would avail us nothing 
to lie, and I hoped our final safety might result 
from being frank and truthful. 

“Van Dorn has already secured the treasure,*' 
I answered. 

For the first time the passionate heart of the 
man conquered his impassive frame. He gave 
a start of dismay and his face was for an in- 
stant contorted with fear and anger. But pres- 
ently he controlled himself with a great effort 
and asked: 

“When was this, Effendi?" 

“Last night." 

“Were you with him?" 

“Yes." 

“Where, then, is the robber now?" 

“I do not know. We went to Luxor on busi- 
ness and our party was to wait for us at Tel- 
Ambra. When we arrived they were gone." 

I had reminded him of something. He looked 
at Archie and said: 

“You received some money at Luxor. This 
198 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

is a dangerous place, so I will myself take care 
of your money until you are in safety, or rejoin 
your friends. Give it to me.’’ 

Archie grinned. 

‘‘Why, you’re as big a thief as Van Dorn,” 
he answered, easily. “But I’ve fooled you, my 
good Arab. The money is now in Cook’s bank 
at Luxor, and I don’t believe they’ll give it up 
if you go and ask them.” 

The Arab frowned; but perhaps he remem- 
bered there was more important game to be 
bagged, for he said no more about Archie’s 
money, to the boy’s great relief. 

“Did the jackal secure much treasure?” he 
inquired, turning to me with a trace of eager- 
ness in his voice. 

“Quite a lot. Enough to load two camels,” 
I replied. 

“And did any remain after that?” 

“Plenty, as far as I could judge.” 

“Where is the place?” 

“I could not find it again if I tried ; nor could 
my companions. Van Dorn did not tell us how 
199 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

to get to it. He led us there at night, and it 
is still his secret as far as we are concerned.’’ 

After this Abdul Hashim began to pace nerv- 
ously up and down the room, the floor of which 
was hard earth. Suddenly he paused. 

‘‘How many people came with you from 
Koser?” he demanded. 

I was glad he asked the question that way, 
for it gave me an opportunity to answer truth- 
fully and still mislead him. 

“Gege-Merak, who guided us, had an escort 
of six Bega warriors; in our party were nine — 
fifteen in all,” said I. 

“Gege-Merak!” he exclaimed, in an annoyed 
tone, and resumed his pacing. Evidently the 
news did not please him. 

I acknowledge that I hardly knew how to 
conduct myself in so strange an emergency. The 
question was whether to try to make an ally of 
the sheik or to defy him. It naturally worried 
me to be separated from my uncle and his party 
of Americans, of whose fate I now stood in 
doubt. The treasure I believed to be seriously 
threatened by Gege-Merak, who had so inop- 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

portunely discovered our secret, and the chief 
would have no hesitation in murdering us all if 
he found an opportunity. With Abdul Hashim 
on our side we might successfully defy Gege- 
Merak, yet to set the Arab on the trail meant 
sure death to the Professor and a loss of much 
of the treasure, since the sheik would be sure 
to put forward his claim for a division, under 
the alleged compact existing between himself 
and Lovelace. 

Truly we Americans were in double peril, from 
the Bega chief on one side and the Arab sheik on 
the other; and how we might extricate ourselves 
from the difficulties that beset us was a difficult 
problem. If we three boys were again with Ned 
and Uncle Naboth we could assist them to fight 
it out, but our loss must have weakened them 
greatly, and alone we three were well nigh 
powerless. 

'"Fifteen,” repeated Abdul Hashim, musingly; 
"fifteen. Are you Americans true men ?” he then 
inquired, with an appearance of earnestness, 

"True as steel,” I said. 


201 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

‘‘Will they deliver Van Dorn to my venge- 
ance 

The question amused me. 

“No, sheik; they will be true to Van Dorn, 
who has been true to them. They do not know 
the story you have just told me, and have no 
grievance against the man.’’ 

“But when they learn the truth will they de- 
liver him up?” he persisted. 

“I think not. My uncle would take an Ameri- 
can’s word in preference to that of an Arab.” 

“I must fight,” said Abdul Hashim, as if to 
himself. “But not openly. I must meet treach- 
ery with treachery. Very good.” 

He stopped and looked at us with composure, 
as if he had settled all difficulties in his own 
mind and outlined a plan of action. 

“I shall yet secure my treasure and my re- 
venge,” he continued, and then bowed low to 
us and left the room. The bow was a mockery, 
and we felt less assurance in the sheik’s absence 
than when we faced him. 

But here we were, prisoners of an unscrupu- 
202 


Abdul Hashim Explains 

lous and lawless Arab, and realizing that any 
present attempt to escape would be useless, we 
sat down upon the palm branches to await the 
next act in the drama. 


203 


CHAPTER XIIL 


PRISONERS. 

The situation was not long in developing. A 
tall, dirty Arab came in with some coarse food, 
which we ate because it was now the middle of 
the afternoon and our long ride had made us 
hungry. 

Scarcely had we finished the meal when more 
Arabs came to lead us from our quarters. We 
found six camels saddled and kneeling in the 
village street. Three were our own, and with 
them were three others that seemed equally good 
— doubtless the pick of Abdul Hashim's animals. 

The sheik and two stalwart Arabs stood be- 
side the beasts and, as we approached, Abdul 
Hashim tersely commanded us to mount. We 
obeyed, selecting our own camels; I ventured to 
ask if we could not have our rifles, which I saw 
the sheik and his two men holding. The result 
was that he not only refused my request, but 
204 


Prisoners 


ordered us carefully searched, and so our knives 
and revolvers were taken away. These the three 
coolly appropriated and we were compelled to 
mount. 

Slowly we rode away from the village toward 
the spot where the three aged palms reared 
their fronded heads above the sands. Some- 
where near their roots there must have been 
moisture, which welled up from below, but never 
reached the surface of the desert. It is the only 
way to account for the life of these trees amid 
the sandy waste, whereon nothing else was able 
to grow. Often you meet with such phenomena 
in tropical climes — vegetation existing seemingly 
without moisture — but there must be a rational 
explanation of these remarkable occurrences. 

Abdul Hashim seemed moody, and a frown 
darkened his handsome bronzed features. When 
we arrived at the palms he turned to us and 
said : 

‘T have decided to give you a full hour in 
which to discover the location of the treasure. 
To deny that you know where it lies is useless, 
for if you fail to find it you will all three die 
205 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

here. I will not be burdened with prisoners, 
and I dare not set you free; so you may pre- 
serve your lives but in one way, by finding the 
treasure.” 

This foolish speech made me very indignant 
with the fellow and discovered the sheik in an 
altogether new character. 

‘'You must think we are a bunch of idiots!” 
I exclaimed, angrily. ‘Tf you dare not set us 
at liberty now, you surely would not dare do so 
after we had found the treasure for you.” 

“You may as well kill us now, without farther 
trouble,” added Archie, gloomily. 

“But that would be awkward for Abdul 
Hashim,” observed Joe, with a quiet smile. 
“Have we not warned the Cadi * at Luxor that 
we saw the sheik at the window of the bazar, 
and that we feared mischief at his hands? And 
did not the Cadi promise us that if harm came 
to. us he would take vengeance on Abdul 
Hashim?” 

I looked at Joe admiringly. It was all pure 


*Judge of the court. 


2p6 


Prisoners 


invention, but I could see that the remark im- 
pressed the sheik and caused him to waver in 
his purpose. 

‘The death of Abdul Hashim won’t help us 
after we are murdered,” remarked Archie, with 
a grin of appreciation. 

“But it will be a satisfaction, nevertheless, to 
our friends,” I added, attempting indifference. 

Now, the desert Arab is perhaps the most 
lawless creature on earth, except the desert Bega ; 
but also he has a most wholesome fear of the 
authorities. The Egyptian mounted police is 
considered the finest and ablest body of the kind 
in existence, and its officers are merciless in 
hunting down the offenders of the law. So the 
Arab covers his crimes as much as possible, not 
being wholly deterred from them by the police, 
but striving in stealthy ways to escape discovery. 
Joe’s argument was, therefore, the most forcible 
one we could have advanced to safeguard our 
lives, and we were glad to see that it made our 
captor thoughtful. It might not serve, after all, 
if the sheik saw any particular object in killing 
207 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

US off, but until he did the thought of punish- 
ment evidently deterred him from harming us. 

He tried another argument. 

“Come,” said he, assuming a soft, caressing 
tone, “there is much treasure left, you say, and 
we will divide it equally. Or we will make it 
in quarters — I am not greedy, and a quarter is 
enough for one poor Arab like me, who only 
wants money to rebuild his village. And after- 
ward I will escort you and your prize safely to 
Koser, or to Cairo, as you may prefer. All will 
be well with us, and we shall part friends. Is 
it agreed, then?” 

He was not at all clever, this big and hand- 
some bandit. No wonder the Professor found 
it easy to fool him. 

For answer I shook my head. 

“What you ask is impossible,” I said, truly. 
“Van Dorn has guarded his secret well, for only 
he knows where to unearth the treasure.” 

“Then,” declared the sheik, with an abrupt 
change in tone, “I must have Van Dorn. Come; 
let us ride on.” 

“Do you expect to capture Van Dorn’s party 
20 % 


Prisoners 


with three men?” inquired Archie, maliciously. 

“No; I will tell you my plan. I intend to 
make a compact with Gege-Merak, if I can over- 
take him,” was the calm answer. “Together we 
will get the treasure that has been already taken 
and what still remains. We have only to wrest 
the secret from the red-bearded jackal, and kill 
him. Then we will divide the spoils and each 
go our own way. It is simple and easy enough 
to do, is it not?” 

It seemed to me rather difficult, but I said 
nothing. Knowing more of the situation than 
Abdul Hashim did, I realized that the Bega 
chief was already our secret enemy and would 
doubtless be glad to form an alliance with the 
Arab, although the Bega professed to despise 
the Bedouins who shared the desert with them. 
I pinned my faith to Ned Britton, our stalwart 
sailors, and Bry, and to the cleverness of the 
Professor. Abdul Hashim would find some op- 
position in carrying out his “easy and simple” 
plans. 

The camels were now sent forward at a swift 
pace and soon we reached the miserable oasis 
209 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

of Laketa. There we learned that all the men 
of the village — some half dozen — had joined 
Gege-Merak's party and gone into the moun- 
tains. The party of Americans had followed 
in pursuit an hour later, said an old woman who 
spoke English imperfectly. 

“Why pursuit?” I asked in wonder, when the 
sheik, at this information, turned to me with a 
triumphant leer. 

That, however, the ignorant creature could 
not explain, either in her native dialect or in 
English. We only knew that friends and foes 
had disappeared into the foothills several hours 
before, and it puzzled me greatly to understand 
why Uncle Naboth had left us three boys to 
our fate and started in pursuit of the Bega chief. 
The only plausible explanation was that the Pro- 
fessor wanted to kill Gege-Merak before he could 
betray the secret of the treasure and set the au- 
thorities at Koser upon us; but even then it was 
unlikely that my uncle would consent to abandon 
me and my companions for the sake of the treas- 
ure or to obey Van Dorn’s whim. It was not 


210 


Prisoners 


like the faithful old fellow, who had stood by 
me in many a former emergency. 

Abdul Hashim did not delay at the village, 
but pushed on hastily, late as it was. We three 
boys were ordered to ride ahead, and our cap- 
tors followed with rifles ready to shoot if we 
dared swerve from the path. Neither could we 
outdistance them, for their camels were as swift 
as our own and more obedient to their control. 
So we were as much prisoners as if bound and 
manacled. 

The twilight is brief in Egypt, so soon after 
the setting of the sun we were obliged to make 
a halt. We had now reached the old abandoned 
well of the Romans, and beside it we made our 
camp. 

First of all the Arabs tethered the camels; 
then calmly proceeded to bind us in an original 
manner. Our legs were tied from ankles to 
knees, and a rope was placed around each of 
our necks, looping us together and connecting 
us in one string with the most powerful of the 
two Arabs who accompanied the sheik. We 
were given food and a swallow of tepid water 
2II 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

each, and afterward our wrists were firmly tied 
behind us. Trussed up like so many mummies, 
we were commanded to lie down and sleep! 

Strange to say, we did sleep— not comfortably, 
perhaps, but from extreme fatigue; for the hard 
riding of the day had thoroughly exhausted us. 


212 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE WELL OF THE SCORPIONS. 

Next morning I awoke at early dawn to see 
Abdul Hashim standing by the curb of the aban- 
doned welband looking into its depths thought- 
fully. His men joined him a moment later, 
and they conversed together in low tones in 
Arabic. Several times I heard the word 
‘‘akareb” mentioned, which I knew to signify 
scorpions, and at times they would cast a pebble 
into the well and then peer after it curiously. 

At first I could not imagine what the fellows 
were up to. I knew scorpions were thick in 
these foothills, and remembered that my friend 
Ketti had warned me of them as we passed 
through; but why should the Arabs be so inter- 
ested in the fact that there were numbers of 
these vermin at the bottom of the abandoned 
well? 

The sheik soon solved the mystery, to my great 
213 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

horror. He came to us and kicked us in turn, 
bidding us harshly to rise. 

Something in the man^s eyes warned me of 
grave danger. His mood had changed over 
night and instead of the thin mask of friendli- 
ness there was now a wicked look on his finely 
cut features that I was positive meant our im- 
minent destruction — if he could accomplish it. 

I slowly and with effort struggled to my feet, 
as did Archie and Joe. I braced myself for the 
final struggle. 

‘‘If I am to reach Gege-Merak I can carry 
you with me no longer,” announced the sheik, 
in a surly tone. “Therefore you will have the 
misfortune to fall into the well here, and if your 
bones are ever found no one can blame me for 
your death.” 

“The well is full of scorpions, boys,” I said 
to my companions. “The sheik means to mur- 
der us.” 

Archie shuddered, Joe remaining strangely 
silent. 

“It isn't a pleasant fate, Abdul Hashim,” I 
continued, turning to face the scowling Arab. 

214 


The Well of the Scorpions 

“Why don’t you shoot us down, and make an 
end of it?” 

“Ah, I fear your friend, the Cadi,” he re- 
sponded, with a guttural laugh. “My plan is 
safe for me, and as sure for yourselves. There 
shall be no bullet holes in your flesh to trap me; 
there shall be no bonds around you to prove 
foul play if you are discovered in the well be- 
fore the scorpions have picked your bones clean. 
Now, then, Hassan — get to work!” he added, 
turning with a gesture of command to his tall 
follower. 

Hassan proceeded to free Joe from his bonds 
— he was first at hand — and the others at the 
same time began to untie our cords. 

“I will give you a chance to fight the scor- 
pions,” said the sheik, grimly; but that was the 
biggest mistake he ever made. He should not 
have risked loosening our bonds. He took us 
for mere boys, but forgot that even a boy, if he 
is an American and desperate, will fight to the 
last for life and liberty. 

The tall one pushed Joe toward the edge of 
the well and was about to thrust him over the 


215 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

brink when the boy, who had seemed dazed and 
inert, suddenly stooped and grasped the Arab’s 
legs. It was the old trick that had once before 
astonished us. There was a brief struggle and 
then the man rose into the air, his arms ex- 
tended and swinging in space, and plunged head 
foremost into the pit. His cry of terror, as he 
fell, was bloodcurdling, and Abdul Hashim gave 
an answering yell and sprang toward Joe with 
a knife glittering in his upraised hand. 

Swift as an arrow the boy darted under his 
arm and ran where a rifle leaned against the 
rock. I saw him swing around and fire point 
blank at the sheik, who was not three paces 
away — but I had business of my own to attend 
to. For the burly Arab who had partly un- 
fastened my bonds now clutched me by the 
throat and threw me to the ground, where he 
knelt on my chest and drew his pistol from his 
belt. Just as he fired the weapon was thrust 
aside and Archie’s big fist crashed into the fel- 
low’s face and knocked him flat beside me. 

‘*A11 right, Sam; you can get up now,” said 
the Yankee, cheerfully. “The war’s over.” 

216 



The fight at the scorpion pit. 




The Well of the Scorpions 

He cut my remaining bonds "with a knife; 
half conscious of what had happened, I sat up 
and looked around. 

Joe was seated on a rock bandaging his leg 
with a handkerchief. 

‘"What is it?’’ I asked. 

‘'Only a scratch,” he replied. "Abdul Hashim’s 
knife grazed me as he fell.” 

The sheik was lying motionless upon his face. 
Archie turned him over and the dark eyes stared 
steadfastly at the sun, without blinking. I found 
myself trembling as with an ague. 

"It’s dreadful, boys!” I gasped, appalled by 
what we had done. 

"So it is,” answered Joe, nodding; "but it was 
our lives against theirs, Sam, and ” 

He paused abruptly, glaring at something be- 
hind me. Archie screamed a warning and I 
sprang to my feet to find that the third Arab 
had recovered consciousness and was about to 
plunge a knife into my back. 

I caught his wrist and struggled to hold the 
keen blade away from me, but the fellow was 
strong as an ox and mad with rage. Archie 
217 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

came to the rescue and dealt him a couple of 
stinging blows, so that he dropped the knife and 
caught us both in a fierce embrace, crushing the 
two of us against his breast while he dragged 
us nearer to the well. 

I realized his intention and screamed and 
struggled without avail. Nearer and nearer to 
the scorpion pit we were dragged until all three 
of us, a writhing mass of flesh and muscle, were 
tottering on the brink. 

Suddenly a pistol shot cracked — seemingly 
close to my ear — and the Arab’s head dropped. 
He gave us one final, spasmodic hug, and partly 
relaxed his grasp. I felt that we were all three 
reeling into the awful depths below, when my 
hair was clutched and I was torn from that 
terrible embrace and hurled to the earth. It 
was Joe who had saved me, and from where I 
lay I saw him straining to save Archie also from 
falling into the well. The Arab was either dead 
or desperately wounded, but with his final in- 
stinct of enmity he clung to Archie on one side 
while Joe dragged at him from the other. 

The Arab’s body, however, was hanging over 

2l8 


The Well of the Scorpions 

the pit, and its weight would soon draw my 
struggling, desperate friends after it unless 
prompt help was rendered them. I again leaped 
up and, half dazed as I was, clung frantically to 
Joe, and my added weight gave us the victory. 
For the Arab's grasp slackened and his body 
slowly collapsed and fell with a thud to the 
bottom of the pit, while we three, clinging to- 
gether and panting from our efforts, staggered 
away to sink weakly upon the ground. 

It had all happened in half the time it takes 
to tell it, and for a moment the sudden revul- 
sion from impending death to absolute freedom 
was more than we could comprehend. A little 
time ago we were being dragged by our terrible 
captors to the scorpion pit, there to meet a 
frightful death, and now two of our assailants 
were themselves in the pit, while the third lay 
motionless before us! 

“How did it happen?" I asked myself, greatly 
bewildered; and then I remembered how Joe's 
trick at wrestling had tumbled the first man into 
the well; how Joe had seized the rifle and shot 
Abdul Hashim; how Joe had vanquished the last 
219 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Arab by a pistol shot as Archie and I struggled 
with him for dear life. 

Joe? Yes; Joe had done all this. The quiet, 
slender lad I had once befriended through pity 
had now saved us all three from an awful fate, 
and by his extraordinary pluck and quick wit 
had proved himself a hero indeed. 

Joe sat before me in an inert heap, breathing 
fast after his amazing efforts. Silently I reached 
out and grasped both his hands in mine, press- 
ing them with gratitude too deep for words. 
Archie awoke from his stupefied abstraction and 
shook our deliverer’s hands warmly in his big 
paws. But he too forbore to speak. Words 
are poor things, and — Joe understood. I’m* sure. 

Finally we grew calm enough to resume con- 
versation and to inquire what it was best we 
should do next. I was for taking the three best 
camels and pushing on toward Koser, hoping 
to find the pass through the mountains and re- 
gain the ship. My friends thought the plan as 
safe and practical as any. So I arose, rather 
unsteadily, for my nerves were still on edge, and 
searched the saddle-bags for food, having had 
220 


The Well of the Scorpions 

no breakfast. I found plenty of dates, banyans 
and dried goat’s flesh, and we each took a por- 
tion of these and began to eat. 

Presently Archie crawled to the edge of the 
well and leaning over looked in. I saw his face 
blanch and a look of horror come to his eyes, 
but neither Joe nor I asked a single question as 
our comrade hastily drew back and came to our 
side. Nor have I questioned him since. What- 
ever the Yankee boy saw in that gloomy pit he 
has never cared to speak of. 

We were about to mount our animals, having 
recovered our rifles and some of our other 
weapons, when the quick tread of approaching 
camels reached our ears. Unnerved by our re- 
cent experience, our first impulse was to grasp 
our rifles and leap behind a sheltering rock, from 
which refuge we might determine whether 
friends or foes were drawing near. 


221 


CHAPTER XV. 


VAN DORN TURNS TRAITOR. 

The tread of the camels sounded ahead of us 
from up the trail, and soon we were reassured 
by a loud voice speaking in hearty American 
fashion. Shortly after there moved into our 
line of vision Uncle Naboth and Ned Britton, 
riding side by side, while after them came 
Bryonia and the sailors from the Seagull. 

With a shout of joy, we leaped from our con- 
cealment, and my uncle fairly tumbled off his 
tall camel in his eagerness to embrace me. It 
was indeed a joyful reunion, and for a while 
no questions were asked on either side, the satis- 
faction of knowing we were all safe and reunited 
being enough for us. 

But soon the silent form of Abdul Hashim 
stretched upon the ground attracted attention, 
and Uncle Naboth leaned over it and asked in 
a hushed voice: 


222 


Van Dorn Turns Traitor 


‘‘Who killed him, Sam?'’ 

“Joe, uncle; and by killing him saved all our 
lives.” As quickly and in as few words as pos- 
sible, I related the tragic scene just enacted. 

But the relation of Abdul Hashim’s enmity 
reminded me to ask a question, in turn. 

“Where is the Professor, uncle?” 

“And where’s the treasure?” demanded 
Archie, almost in the same breath. 

Uncle Naboth frowned and looked glum, and 
Ned swore a deep oath in sailor fashion. 

“The Perfessor, Sam, is a infernal scoun- 
drel!” my uncle answered. 

I glanced at the dead Arab. Was his story 
indeed true, I wondered, and had Van Dorn 
wronged Abdul Hashim even as the sheik had 
declared? If so, much might be forgiven the 
Arab. 

“Let us admit the Professor is a scoundrel,” 
I remarked, “for such a statement does not sur- 
prise me. But that does not account for his 
absence.” 

“Yes; it does,” retorted Uncle Naboth; “an’ 
it ’counts for our runnin’ away and leavin’ you 
223 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

boys in the lurch. Almost it accounts for your 
all bein’ killed — which you would ’a’ been, lads, 
if it hadn’t been fer Joe.” Here he glanced 
affectionately at our hero, who grew red and 
embarrassed. 

‘True enough, uncle,” I said. “Tell us about 
it, please.” 

“It were this way, Sam,” he began, seating 
himself upon a stone and mopping his brow with 
his red silk handkerchief, for it was hot up here 
among the rocks and Mr. Perkins was round 
and chubby. “You boys hadn’t more’n started 
for Luxor yesterday mornin’ before that blasted 
Gege-Merak come a-ridin’ up with his band an’ 
all the scoundrelly niggers in the village. They 
halted a little way off, for we showed fight an’ 
they was summat afraid of us. But that little 
dried-up one-eyed chief was game to come on 
alone, an’ as soon as he was in speakin’ distance 
he begun jabberin’ away in Arabia to the Per- 
fessor. Van Dorn answered back, for he can 
talk Arabia well enough himself, an’ so they 
jabbered together for a time. I asked ’em to 
speak so’s we could understand, for ol’ Gege 
224 


Van Dorn Turns Traitor 


can talk English if he wants to, as you know; 
but the Perfessor told me not to interfere. 

‘You leave me to deal with him,’ says he, 
‘an’ I’ll negotiate this business all right. P’raps,’ 
says he, ‘the Bega will keep our secret, after all, 
an’ not want a share o’ the plunder, either. He 
ain’t lookin’ for trouble,’ says the Perfessor. 

“So I said nothin’ more, an’ they talked an’ 
jabbered a long while. Then on a suddint Van 
Dorn turns an’ says: ‘The chief thinks some o’ 
you understan’ Arabia, the langwidge as we’re 
speakin’, an’ he suspicions we’re a-trappin’ him.’ 

“ ‘We’re all honest English,’ says I, ‘an’ I’m 
glad to say we don’t know a word of Arabia. 
What does he want, anyhow?’ 

“The Perfessor looked hard at Gege, but ol’ 
one-eye wouldn’t talk English. ‘Come,’ says the 
Perfessor, ‘state your terms.’ But still Gege was 
silent as a clam. 

“ ‘I guess,’ says the Perfessor, ‘you all better 
draw aside an’ leave me to dicker with the chief. 
Draw back a little,’ says he, motionin’ to us. 

“Well, you know, Sam, we’d come to rely a 
good deal on Van Dorn. He’d led us straight 
225 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

to the treasure, as he’d said he would, an’ he’d 
sealed it all up accordin’ to agreement until we 
could get it aboard ship an’ divide it proper. 
An’ we knew we’d have a hard time gettin’ 
back to Koser if we had to fight Gege an’ his 
niggers all the way. So we thought if Van Dorn 
could settle the trouble in his own fashion we’d 
give him every chance to do so. Leastwise, 
that’s what I thought, for I told the boys to 
ride off a little way, out o’ earshot. We did 
that, leavin’ the Perfessor an’ the chief together, 
and leavin’ — that’s where we blundered, my lad 
— leavin’ the two camels with the treasure with 
’em. But we hadn’t a thought of treachery 
until ol’ Gege raised his arm an’ the whole troop 
o’ niggers come rushin’ forward. They sur- 
rounded the Perfessor an’ the camels, fired a 
few shots at us, an’ then turned an’ rode as fast 
as they could for the village. 

“Ned an’ I didn’t know what to do for a 
minute. The Perfessor was escapin’ as lively 
as the rest, leadin’ one treasure camel, while 
ol’ Gege led the other; so we knew well enough 
226 


Van Dorn Turns Traitor 


he'd put up the job on us an' made a dicker with 
Gege to rob us of our share. 

‘The boys won't be back till afternoon, so 
let's f oiler the thieves an' fight it out,' says Ned. 
That struck me as sensible, so after 'em we 
went, not meanin' at the time to desert you, but 
tryin’ to save the treasure we had earned an' 
to balk the plans of that dum-sizzled Perfessor." 

“You did quite right, uncle," said 1. “I don't 
blame you a bit. Well?" 

“Well, lad, they didn't stop at the village, as 
we expected, but kep' right on. Also we kep' 
right on. Whenever we got too close they'd 
turn an' shoot at us, but they never hit any- 
thing, an' we didn't dare shoot much ourselves 
for fear o' killin' the girl, who was ridin' her 
camel jest beside the chief an' the Perfessor." 

“Iva?" 

“Yes. She's a pretty girl, Sam, and ain't 
to blame in this matter, as I can see; so we 
hated to harm her. Another thing, we ain't so 
used to shootin' folks for a bit o' money as these 
Arabs is. So all day we chased ol' Gege through 
the hills, an' towards dark we were a long way 
227 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

ahead o* here, past the next stretch o’ desert 
beyond, and well into the black mountains. 
Then, to our surprise, instead o’ keepin’ in the 
trail, the chief and his party turned aside into 
a narrer path an’ rode plumb into a blind ravine, 
where they made camp. 

‘T couldn’t understan’ the whys an’ where- 
fores of this, at first, but Ned an’ I figgered out 
that the foxey ol’ chief, or the Perfessor, or 
both, didn’t care to get any nearer to Koser 
with that treasure while we were hot on their 
track. They mean to stop in that canyon until 
they can get rid o’ us, some way or ’nuther; 
for to let us chase ’em into the settlement, or 
to get there first an’ warn the police, would 
mean that they’d have to give up the boodle, 
sure thing, an’ p’raps render an account for 
killin’ poor Cunningham. 

‘‘We watched the mouth of that ravine all 
night, but couldn’t get any nearer the thieves 
’cause one man, well armed, can stand in that 
narrer place between the rocks an’ keep off an 
army. This mornin’ we decided we’d go back 
an’ find you boys, for you’ve been on my mind 
228 


Van Dorn Turns Traitor 


a good deal an’ Tve worried about you. So 
I’m mighty glad to find you so soon, safe an’ 
well.” 

This story was as perplexing as it was inter- 
esting. I tried to understand the policy of the 
Professor’s strange desertion. 

“Why, uncle, do you think Van Dorn pre- 
ferred to deal with the Bega chief rather than 
remain faithful to us?” 

“There’s several things to explain it, Sam. 
or Gege knew the secret, first an’ foremost, an’ 
the Perfessor reckoned we could never get to 
Koser alive an’ with the treasure as long as the 
chief was agin us an’ hankerin’ to get his fists 
on them jewels an’ things. Van Dorn had 
agreed to give us half of all the treasure, ex- 
ceptin’ the rolls of writin’, an’ if he stuck to his 
bargain with us ol’ Gege might capture the out- 
fit, bein’ stronger than we are an’ knowin’ the 
country better. On the contrary, if Van Dorn 
deserted an’ went over to the chief, he could 
make the same terms with him an’ stand a bet- 
ter chance of gettin’ out safe. Mebbe he’s got 
a plan to return for the rest of the treasure, 
229 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

an’ mebbe his idea is to take it to Luxor, so’s 
to keep out of our way. Anyhow, the Perfes- 
sor’s a low-down villain, Sam, an’ he’s tryin’ 
to feather his own nest at our expense. I 
wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he’s plottin’ right 
now how to kill us all, so’s to make himself safe. 
You see, he an’ Gege has that paper, signed by 
us, say in’ we don’t hold anyone responsible if 
we’re killed in this adventure. That was a great 
mistake, Sam; we hadn’t ought to ’a’ signed it, 
at all.” 

“But Van Dorn wouldn’t dare go to the ship 
and face my father,” said I. 

“Of course not. His plan would be to find 
some other vessel to carry his plunder away from 
Egypt. He’s cunning as a weasel, that Per- 
fessor, an’ vile as a skunk.” 

I thought it a good time to relate to our 
friends the story of Van Dorn’s treachery to 
Lovelace Pasha, as told us by the Arab sheik; 
and they all agreed that Abdul Hashim’s ver- 
sion was likely to be true, and that the “red- 
beard” had been a scoundrel from the beginning 
of his connection with the affair, plotting to get 
230 


Van Dorn Turns Traitor 


the treasure away from both the explorer and 
the sheik, in case it was discovered. We were 
sorry Abdul Hashim had been killed, but his 
cold-blooded attempt to murder us had led to 
his own undoing, and he was now out of the 
running for good and all. The Arab might have 
possessed some manly instincts, and perhaps was 
a better man than Van Dorn, if the two could 
be compared; but his hatred of the white infi- 
dels made him as dangerous as the other, and 
we felt that one desperate enemy, at least, had 
been removed from our path. 

‘T wish he could have lived long enough to 
meet the Professor once more,” said I, with a 
sigh; “but fate has robbed the poor devil of 
even his revenge.” 

We buried him among the rocks, to keep the 
jackals from preying upon his body, and mounted 
our camels to ride toward the place where Gege- 
Merak was encamped. 

There was little need of haste now. The 
chief did not wish to escape us, it seemed, any 
more than we wished him to escape. The treas- 
ure was a magnet that drew both parties toward 
231 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

it irresistibly, and in order to possess it we 
must isolate ourselves in these mountains until 
we had fought the matter out and one side or 
the other became the victor. 


232 


CHAPTER XVI. 


THE MAD CAMEL. 

Beyond the old Roman well, which had this 
morning witnessed so strange a tragedy, there 
lay, as you will remember, a stretch of sandy 
desert some five miles in extent, beyond which 
rose the black breccia cliffs of the Hammemat 
Mountains. It was in a rift of these cliffs that 
Gege-Merak had established himself. 

We were proceeding leisurely across the sands 
and had come near enough to the edge of the 
mountain to note well its defiles, when our atten- 
tion was arrested by a strange occurrence. A 
camel came racing at full speed from the hill 
path and dashed out upon -the flat desert where 
we rode. For a short distance the beast made 
straight toward us, and we could see a rider 
clinging to its back — a huddled up figure dressed 
in a green and scarlet robe. 

Iv^!^’ cried Archie, astonished; and at 
233 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

the same moment the dress also enabled me to 
recognize the chief’s granddaughter. 

Even as my friend spoke, the camel swerved 
and commenced running in a circle, scattering 
the sand in clouds as it bounded along in great 
leaps. The girl huddled lower, clinging desper- 
ately to her seat as the seemingly infuriated 
beast continued on its wild career. 

‘‘Why, the camel’s mad!” I exclaimed, re- 
membering the tales of mad camels I had heard 
related, and seeing in the animal’s erratic actions 
the solution of the mystery. 

There was no doubt of it now. The huge 
beast ran here and there in an aimless manner, 
never slacking its terrific speed, but darting first 
this way and then that, and finally renewing the 
circular course that was the clearest proof of 
its crazed condition. 

Our party had halted involuntarily to watch 
the strange scene, but I felt that the girl was 
in serious danger and urged my camel forward 
without any clear idea of how I could render 
her assistance. In a moment I found that Archie 
and Joe had both joined me; pricking our ani- 

234 


The Mad Camel 


mals to a faster pace we rode straight for the 
place where the mad camel was performing his 
capricious pranks. 

Suddenly the beast stopped — so abruptly that 
Iva flew over its head and landed in the sand 
twenty feet or more away. She seemed unhurt 
by the fall, for instantly she was on her feet 
and, picking up her skirt, ran toward us with 
the speed of a deer. At the same time the mad 
brute’s eye caught the flash of her gaudy robe 
and, with a loud bellow, he darted after her 
flying figure. 

For a second my heart was in my throat. 
Then I jabbed the pointed stick into the flank 
of my camel and shouted: 

‘ 'Quick, boys — keep close together and run 
the beast down!” 

It was a desperate act, but Iva’s p'eril was 
imminent. Even the lion in his jungle is not 
more terrible to face than a mad camel, and in 
a few moments the girl might have been tram- 
pled into a shapeless mass by the feet of the 
frenzied animal. 

Riding so close together that the flanks of the 
* 235 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

three camels touched, we dashed swiftly on. Iva 
saw us, and, almost as we were upon her, turned 
and darted to one side. Her camel had also 
marked us, but with elevated head and flashing 
eyes, its hoofs spreading in the air as it bounded 
along, it made no attempt to pause. Next mo- 
ment we came together and struck with the 
force of a catapult, the impact being so great 
that I sailed skyward and alighted — fortunately 
on my feet — several yards away. Archie and 
Joe also took croppers, and as soon as we re- 
covered ourselves we looked toward the camels. 
They were all in a bunch at first. The mad 
one was down, and also one of the others, while 
the remaining two were stamping on them with 
terrific blows from their powerful feet. 

It was a camel fight then, sure enough, for 
it is the instinct of these creatures to destroy one 
of its kind if it becomes crazed and runs amuck ; 
and Archie’s camel, having tumbled down, would 
have suffered severely from the indiscriminate 
attack of its companions had it not found a 
chance to rise and join them against the real 
offender, 


236 


The Mad Camel 

When, finally, the mad one lay crushed and 
motionless upon the sands, the others quieted 
down and stood meekly awaiting us to come 
and remount them. 

Meantime Ned Britton, who followed close 
behind us, had leaped down and caught up the 
terrified girl, and when I looked to see what 
had become of her I found her seated upon 
Ned's steed with our big mate beside her, while 
he strove to quiet her fears and agitation by 
smoothing her hair with his rough hand. 

Heretofore Iva had been sullen and silent, 
keeping by the side of the old chief, her grand- 
father, like a shadow and seeming to lack any 
interest in her surroundings. But now, as we 
gathered around her with sympathetic faces, she 
became animated and frank, thanking us very 
sweetly and with evident gratitude for coming 
to her rescue. 

‘‘But how did it happen, Iva?" I asked. “Why 
did you leave Gege-Merak?" 

She drew back with a sober look; then, im- 
pulsively, she said: 

“I will tell you all, for Ketti says you are 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

honest and good, and I know my grandfather 
to be cruel and wicked.” 

The speech astonished us, but the girl con- 
tinued, quickly: 

‘‘Ketti has quarreled with his chief, and he is 
in disgrace — Ketti, who will be chief after my 
grandfather dies !” 

‘‘Will he, Iva?” I asked. “Is Ketti to be the 
next chief?” 

“Yes; it is his right,” she answered, proudly; 
“and that is why Gege-Merak hates him. But 
Ketti is good, and when he is chief I am to 
marry him.” 

“Bravo, Iva !” cried Archie. “Ketti is the best 
fellow in your gang, to my notion.” 

“I think so, too,” said I. “But go on with 
your story, Iva.” 

“The red-beard offered to give our chief half 
the treasure he has found if Gege-Merak will 
kill you all. My grandfather has promised to 
do so, but the men we brought from Laketa are 
cowards and do not dare to kill the Americans, 
and we have not enough men to be sure we will 
beat you in a fight. So the chief sent me back 
238 


The Mad Camel 


to our village to get all of the fighting men of 
our tribe and bring them to join him in yonder 
valley.” 

“A very pretty plan,” remarked Uncle Naboth. 

‘That was why Ketti quarreled,” said the 
girl. “He said you must not be killed, for if 
we injured you the whole tribe would suffer, 
and perhaps be destroyed. Ketti does not care 
for treasure ; he says it makes our people thieves 
and jackals; and he wants to live honestly and 
in peace, as our forefathers did. There was an- 
other thing, too, Effendi. The chief also plots 
to kill Red-beard, now that he is in our power, 
and to keep to himself all the treasure. Ketti 
told my grandfather that was not right, for we 
had given Red-beard our word, and the word 
of a Bega chief should be an honest word, and 
never false.” 

“It won’t hurt the Perfessor to kill him,” ob- 
served Uncle Naboth reflectively. “The dum- 
sizzled scoundrel deserves several kinds of 
deaths, as a matter of justice.” 

Iva did not know how to take this speech, 

239 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

but, after looking at my uncle in grave protest, 
she continued: 

‘‘So Ketti was disgraced — he, the bravest of 
our tribe ! — and the chief, my grandfather, com- 
manded me to ride to the village for our war- 
riors, because I could not fight if you attacked 
him, and I knew well the way. He made me 
take Sekkat, our swiftest camel, although Sek- 
kat has been acting strangely for two days. 
There is Sekkat,” she continued, pointing to the 
crushed remains of the beast that had so nearly 
destroyed her. “No sooner had I ridden out of 
the valley where the camp is than I understood 
that Sekkat was mad. I tried to turn him, and 
he rushed down the path and out upon the des- 
ert. The rest of my story you know, Effendi, 
and I thank you again for saving my life. Ketti 
also will thank you,” she continued, with a proud 
look at us. 

“But Ketti is disgraced,” I said, smiling. 

Her eyes flashed at this and her brow grew 
dark and fierce. 

“Not for long will Ketti bow to any man’s 
anger!” she cried. Looking about us with an 
240 


The Mad Camel 


air imperious as that of any queen, she added: 

‘‘Come with me, brave Amerikani ! I will show 

« 

you how to save both Ketti and yourselves, even 
as you have saved me. More; you shall save 
Red-beard and his treasure, too.’’ 

That last promise was not necessary, but we 
accepted it with the rest, and that right joyously, 
as you may imagine. 

“What is your plan, Iva?” I asked, as we 
once more put our camels in motion and rode 
toward the black cliffs of the mountain. 

“Wait; you will see,” she replied, setting her 
lips firmly together. So much were we impressed 
by this girl’s courage and frankly avowed friend- 
ship that we followed her lead blindly, question- 
ing her no more. 


241 


CHAPTER XVII. 


IVA. 

It soon became evident to us that Iva knew 
this country intimately. She abandoned the 
clearly outlined entrance to the pass through 
which we had come on our way from Koser, 
and led us around to the less promising cliffs 
at the left. An hour’s ride brought us to a 
ravine we had not before noticed, and silently 
we entered this and rode among boulders and 
loose stones until the steep rocky sides closed in 
on us and we could proceed no farther. Then 
we dismounted and picketed our camels. Taking 
only our rifles and ammunition with us, we fol- 
lowed the Bega girl up a dizzy and difficult 
path that one would have judged, at first sight, 
it was impossible to scale. But Iva, mounting 
^ light as an antelope, seemed sure of her way, 

and where she went we could not well hesitate 
to follow. 

.242 


Iva 


The perilous climb brought us to the top of 
the cliff — a rocky ridge, narrow and uneven, 
with peaks here and there that shot their points 
still farther toward the sky. Presently the girl 
paused and looked over the edge, and dropped 
lightly into a pocket-like hollow of the inner 
cliff — a place that reminded me of an upper box 
in a theatre. 

Here, quite protected from observation, we 
could look down upon the ravine in which Gege- 
Merak and his men were encamped. Just be- 
yond the pass we could see the two tall war- 
riors who were guarding its entrance, so we 
had approached the ravine from the rear. 

The cunning old chief had chosen his retreat 
well. On all sides were smooth walls of black 
breccia, where not even a mountain goat could 
have found a foothold. Only at the entrance 
was there any cleft that allowed one to enter or 
leave the place. The camels stood grouped at 
one end, and the four panniers containing the 
treasure of the priests of Karnak had been piled 
upon a rocky table and were guarded by one of 
Gege-Merak's own men. The ravine was per- 

243 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

haps eighty feet wide by some three hundred 
feet long, and several of the low, spreading 
Bedouin tents had been pitched just underneath 
the hollow wherein we lay. 

The chief and all his company, except the 
guards I have mentioned, must have been congre- 
gated under these tents when we arrived at our 
point of observation, and for more than an hour 
we lay there patiently attentive without seeing 
any evidence of life in the camp below. We 
supposed that Iva’s adventure was unknown to 
them, shut in as they were, and doubtless the 
chief believed her even then to be speeding 
toward his village to bring back reinforcements 
of fighting men. 

But Gege-Merak had no intention of remain- 
ing idle in the meantime, as we were soon to 
observe. For at last the Bega began to stream 
out of the chief’s tent, and among them came 
Van Dorn, his arms bound close to his sides and 
a big warrior now leading, now pushing him 
along. 

The Professor seemed weak and unnerved, for 
he stumbled among the loose stones that littered 
244 


Iva 


the way and would have fallen more than once 
had not his guard steadied him. His head was 
bare and his clothing torn in many places. 
Doubtless the fellow had struggled desperately 
before he had finally been secured. 

They led Van Dorn to the end of the ravine 
opposite us and placed him with his back against 
the rock. The Bega and the Bisharin from 
Laketa, all animated and talking eagerly in their 
native tongue, formed a group fifty yards away. 
Prominent amongst them we could see the 
dwarfed, withered form of the aged chief, and 
the stalwart, towering figure of Ketti. 

Gege-Merak gave an order and a man stepped 
forward and leveled his rifle at the Professor. 
Before he could fire. Van Dorn shrieked in ter- 
ror and dropped to the ground. They raised 
him again, cuffing and shaking him until once 
more he stood upright. Yet he trembled visibly. 
Again the Bega warrior raised his rifle, but, 
answering the victim’s pitiful screams, Ketti now 
sprang before the msin and wrenched away his 
weapon, protesting so loudly that his voice 

245 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

reached even to our high nest on the cliff against 
the deed the chief had ordered. 

Gege-Merak fairly danced with rage at this 
defiance. He gave a command which at first 
his men seemed reluctant to execute, but finally 
two of them approached Ketti, seized him and 
drew him away, binding his arms to his sides. 
Iva was frantic at this act, and we had to warn 
her several times to be quiet or we should surely 
be discovered by those below. 

It was while I was busy soothing Iva that I 
heard a shot and a cry of agony, and turned in 
time to see Van Dorn fall flat upon his face. 
Poor fellow, the treasure had cost him his life. 
However treacherous he had been in his deal- 
ings with Lovelace, with Abdul Hashim and 
with us, his final alliance with old Gege-Merak 
had brought him into contact with a nature as 
unscrupulous as his own, and the barbaric chief 
had evened up all scores by robbing the man of 
his ill-gotten wealth and his life at once. 

But it seemed that Gege-Merak’s vengeance 
was not yet complete, and we could see from 
the tense and strained attitudes of the warriors 
246 


Iva 


that Van Dorn’s death was but an incident in 
the drama. If, indeed, the chief had cause to 
hate Ketti, that young man’s rash interference 
with his commands had given Gege-Merak the 
chance, perhaps long desired, to punish him. It 
may be he lived in fear of the handsome fellow 
who was destined to succeed him at his death, 
for Ketti ’s popularity with the tribe was indis- 
putable. Anyway, his orders, now given in a 
firm, loud voice, seemed instantly to seal the fate 
of Iva’s lover. 

Bound and helpless as he was, the young man 
was led to the spot where Van Dorn had stood 
and set with his back against the wall of rock. 
But there was no craven spirit in the victim 
this time. Proudly the warrior stood facing 
his chief, his pose erect, his dark eyes calmly 
regarding his destroyer and a slight smile of 
scorn curling his lips. 

Gege-Merak shouted his commands, but not 
a tribesman moved to obey. Softly Iva reached 
out her hand and grasped my repeating rifle, 
and I let her take it. She knelt before me, her 
brown face rigid, her eyes dark with horror, and 
247 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

rested the barrel on the ledge of rock before 
her. I saw Uncle Naboth and Ned glance at 
each other significantly; but they made no move 
to interfere. 

Again and again the chief shouted his orders, 
waving his arms imperiously and stamping his 
foot in rage; but the Bega stood stolid and un- 
yielding, and their Bisharin allies shrank back 
and huddled in a frightened group in the rear. 

Gege-Merak himself snatched a rifle from a 
warrior’s hand and swinging around leveled it 
full at Ketti. At the same instant Iva’s rifle 
cracked beside me and I saw the aged chief 
totter, drop his weapon and sink slowly to the 
earth. A shout went up from the assembled 
group below, and with one impulse they turned 
their eyes toward us. 

And now the girl sprang upon the dizzy ledge 
and stood where all might see her figure clearly 
outlined against the sky. High above her head 
she held the rifle that had slain her wicked grand- 
sire, and as the Bega recognized her they shouted 
again — joyfully this time — and waved their 
hands to her in full approval of her act. 

248 


Iva 


I own I was horrified for a moment, remem- 
bering the ties of blood between Iva and Gege- 
Merak; but she was a wild, half-civilized child 
of the desert, and to her simple mind her lover’s 
life must be preserved at any cost. 

All was eager animation in the ravine. Ketti’s 
bonds were quickly removed, and the big fellow 
waved his thanks to the sweetheart whose cour- 
age had saved him. 

‘‘Come,” said Iva, calmly, as she stepped down 
to a safer position beside us. “There are only 
friends in Ketti’s tribe now; let us go to him.” 


249 


CHAPTER XVIIL 


KETTI PROVES A FRIEND. 

As hastily as might be we groped our way 
down the dangerous pathway to the ground 
below the cliffs. There we regained our camels 
and made for the desert, around the spur of the 
mountain, and so up the regular trail to the 
mouth of the ravine. 

Ketti was eagerly awaiting us, and as she 
saw him Iva quickly rode forward and threw 
herself from her camel to crouch with bowed 
head before the new chief. 

Coming to her side, Ketti raised her gently 
and, while we watched with curiosity from one 
side and the assembled Bega watched from the 
other, the young warrior gravely placed one 
hand beneath Iva’s chin, palm upward, and the 
other hand upon her head, palm down. 

This, we learned afterward, was the betrothal 
ceremony of the Bega. When a young man 
250 


Ketti Proves a Friend 


chose his bride he went to her and took her chin 
and head between his palms, and thus made 
claim to her for all time. None other dared 
afterward make advances to the girl, under pen- 
alty of incurring her affianced youth’s anger. 
Indeed, I was told this was frequently the only 
ceremony performed at all, whether of betrothal 
or marriage, by many of the tribes, although 
there was a form of native wedding that in- 
cluded various and lengthy rites and involved 
much feasting and dancing. 

The girl, it seems to me, has not a fair chance 
in this custom, for she is not allowed to refuse 
a man who so salutes her. It is true a brother 
or father may challenge a presumptuous war- 
rior and fight him to the death, but the girl 
herself is helpless. 

I am sure Ketti and Iva had an elaborate 
wedding ceremony thereafter; but that is not a 
part of my story, from which I fear I have 
digressed. 

Feeling quite safe with the friendly Ketti, we 
had no hesitation in following him and his band 
into the ravine, where we dismounted and went 

251 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

at once to examine the body of Van Dorn. He 
was quite dead, having been shot through the 
heart, and Ned Britton lifted him and bore him 
to one of the low tents, of which Ketti willingly 
gave us the use. Gege-Merak’s body still lay 
upon its face where it had fallen, and to my 
surprise none of the natives touched it or even 
so much as glanced toward it, so far as I could 
see. 

In the tent, Ned and one of the sailors searched 
Van Dorn's clothing and removed from it the 
leathern belt, his rings and watch and a small 
note-book. Last they found, sewn into the lining 
of his well-worn coat, a package, rather bulky, 
though flat, covered with goat-skin, tied and 
sewn securely and carefully sealed. These things 
I took possession of, and Uncle Naboth and I 
went to see Ketti to get permission to bury the 
body. 

We found the young chief seated on a rock 
beside Iva, with whom he was conversing most 
earnestly. He smiled at us as we came up, and 
said: 


252 


Ketti Proves a Friend 

“We have made changes, Effendi. I am now 
chief.” 

“So I understand, Ketti,” I answered, “and 
Tm glad of it. We are friends with the Bega 
now, are we not?” 

“We are friends,” he announced, gravely. 
“Gege-Merak was bad, and had no love for you. 
He loved treasure better, and killed the Red- 
beard to get it all. But Ketti does not want 
his brothers' wealth. It is enough that you have 
paid the Bega to guide and protect you.” 

“Do you mean that you will return to us the 
treasure?” I asked, striving to conceal my aston- 
ishment. 

“It is not Ketti’s. It was not Gege-Merak's. 
It is yours,” he said, simply. “My tribe shall 
not rob, nor shall they slay their friends. While 
I am chief, the Bega who call me master must 
be honest and good, and keep the laws the great 
Khedive has made. Is it not so, Iva?” 

“It is the only way for our tribe to prosper 
and grow in strength,” she answered, soberly. 
“Under our great and good Chief Ketti we will 

253 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

be rich and strong, and our father the Khedive 
will call us good children.’’ 

‘‘You shall say, when you return to Koser,” 
continued Ketti, regarding us earnestly, “that 
my tribe was true and honest, and touched not 
one jewel of your treasure. You will say that 
we guided you straight and protected you from 
enemies and thieves and earned your money well. 
Is it so, Effendi?” 

“We will say that, Ketti,” I replied. 

“But there are also things which you will not 
say, Effendi,” he continued, with a note of 
anxiety in his voice. 

“And what are they, my friend?” 

“You will not say my people killed the Red- 
beard; for you do not know what killed him. 
You will not say where he is gone, for that you 
do not know. Is not the land broad for men 
to wander in? And if any asks you about Gege- 
Merak you will be sorrowful and tell how he 
died in the desert, being old and feeble, and you 
will say that Ketti succeeded him as chief of 
the tribe. Then you will mount the great ship 
that awaits you and sail away.” 

254 


Ketti Proves a Friend 


I began to understand. Ketti intended to 
make a bargain with us. He feared the conse- 
quences of the murder of Van Dorn and did not 
want the fact that Iva had shot her grandfather 
known. If we would promise to be discreet in 
these matters he would restore to us the treasure, 
which he considered another element of danger 
to him, not realizing that we were slyly removing 
it in defiance of the Khedive’s orders. Had he 
known that — but, fortunately, he did not know it. 

‘‘It shall be as you say. Chief Ketti,” I re- 
turned; “for we wish you and Iva only happi- 
ness, and to tell some things might cause you 
trouble. If your father the Khedive asks us of 
your service, we will say you are a good chief, 
and faithful.” 

That pleased him greatly. 

“The treasure is untouched,” said he. “Not 
a seal is broken. It awaits your orders, Effendi.” 

Willingly he gave us permission to bury the 
Professor among the rocks, which we did dur- 
ing the afternoon. When we returned to the 
ravine from this labor we were surprised to no- 
tice that in our absence the natives had gathered 
2^55 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

several heaps of stones, which were piled in the 
form of a wide circle around Gege-Merak’s body. 
But the body itself had not been disturbed, and 
the Bega were now lounging in various parts of 
the ravine and conversing together in their cus- 
tomary indifferent manner. 

Ketti came to us with the information that 
we should start at dawn next morning for Koser, 
which he hoped to reach in two days' fast riding. 

“But what will you do with Gege-Merak ?" I 
inquired. 

“His ceremony of entombment will be held 
this evening, Effendi. Your people will be wel- 
come to watch the solemn rites,” he added. 

We had supper and awaited with curiosity to 
witness the proposed ceremony; but the natives 
were in no hurry, and showed no activity until 
the stars were bright in the sky. 

At a word from Ketti, every Bega and Bisha- 
rin sprang up and stood in a circle around the 
dead chief’s body. Beginning a low chant they 
now commenced to move slowly around Gege- 
Merak, keeping step to the chant and bending 
in lithe, rhythmic attitudes characteristic of the 
256 


Ketti Proves a Friend 


Eastern dances. And ever the chorus grew 
louder and faster until it became a roar and at 
last a wild shout. Also the excitement of the 
warriors increased until presently they were 
dancing with frenzied leaps. 

Suddenly, as they circled round just beside the 
piles of rock, each man seized a stone from the 
nearest heap and hurled it at the dead body. 
From the next pile he grabbed another stone, 
until the missies were raining upon Gege-Merak's 
prostrate form from every direction. As the 
dance reached its climax of animation and the 
shower of rock continued, the old chief's body 
began to disappear from sight, until he was 
covered up entirely and entombed in a mound 
of stone several feet in height. 

It was a shocking sight, and seemed to us 
extremely brutal; but Iva, who stood by our 
side, calmly declared it was the custom of her 
people, and that a chief was highly honored who 
was thus buried by his people where he fell or 
expired. The chant, she told us, was a relation 
of his virtues and his mighty deeds on earth. 

If a chief dies or is killed on the desert, his 

257 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

people cast sand upon him, in like manner, and 
afterward weight the mound with rocks; and, 
as his body is never moved from the spot where 
he expired, they take down his tent or house 
after the funeral and set up the habitation in 
another place, leaving his burial mound sta- 
tionary. 

The wild chant rang in my ears long after 
the grim ceremony was completed and the camp 
had become quiet for the night. We Americans 
slept uneasily through the next few hours and 
at dawn awoke to eat a hasty breakfast and 
mount our camels. 

The panniers were replaced on the two extra 
animals by Ned and Bryonia, who now took 
charge of the treasure. We were pleased to 
observe the truth of Ketti’s statement that the 
wax upon the buckles of the panniers had not 
been tampered with and was still intact. 

The Bisharin left us here and went away to 
their village, and without incident we traversed 
the trail back to Koser, which we reached, weary 
by exultant, at the close of the second day. 

My father and a number of sailors, apprised 
258 


Ketti Proves a Friend 


by a swift messenger of our coming, were at 
the wooden dock to meet us, and we unstrapped 
the four treasure-laden panniers from the sad- 
dles of the camels and sent them on board by a 
boat commanded by Ned in person. 

Captain Steel produced the hundred and eighty 
pounds due to Ketti for his services, according 
to the contract we had made with Gege-Merak, 
and I asked tnat an extra gold piece be given 
to each of the Bega warriors, which was will- 
ingly agreed to since we had been successful in 
our quest. It made the simple fellows very happy 
indeed. 

After consulting with Uncle Naboth and gain- 
ing his consent, I opened the Professor’s leathern 
belt and took from it the prettiest jewel it con- 
tained, a diadem of yellow gold set with clusters 
of pearls and sapphires. This I presented to 
Iva as a wedding present from her American 
friends, and the beautiful girl was proud indeed 
of the gift, as well she might be. Once, per- 
haps, it had adorned the brow of some famous 
Egyptian queen, and though it might now ap- 
pear incongruous upon the person of a poor 

259 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Bega woman, we were so grateful to Iva for 
the service she had rendered us that we thought 
it none too good to express our appreciation. 

We parted from Ketti and his people in the 
mostly friendly manner, and he returned that 
night to his village in the desert. 

It was not so easy to get rid of the bearded 
Arab sheik of Koser, who was curious to know 
what we had brought from Luxor and what 
adventures we had met on the way. It was 
strange, he added, that the Bega had brought 
us safe back again; it was not like that clever, 
evil old Gege-Merak. Fortunately no one had 
told him of the old chiefs death, or he would 
have been still more curious. 

But we refused to satisfy the fellow’s desire 
to gossip and kept our mouths fast shut when 
he was around. Also we refused his polite offers 
of entertainment and to his disgust hoisted sail 
early the next morning and head up the gulf 
toward Port Ibrahim. 

Now that we had the treasure safe aboard, 
every moment we delayed was fraught with 
danger, and the doubtful friendship of this sheik 
of Koser was no longer of any value to us. 

260 


CHAPTER XIX. 


LOVELACE PASHA. 

The treasure was taken from the panniers and, 
still snugly packed in the canvas sacks which 
Van Dorn had so carefully sealed, carried to 
my stateroom and dumped unceremoniously into 
a huge chest. 

After a brief conference we had decided to 
leave it untouched until after we had passed 
through the Suez Canal and, free from the shores 
of Egypt, were safe on the broad waters of 
the Mediterranean. Then we would open the 
sacks, sort and examine the treasure, and divide 
it in ways still to be agreed upon. Our contract 
with Van Dorn, you will remember, gave us his 
share in case of his death. 

And now, while we sailed up the long branch 
of the Red Sea which is called the Arabian Gulf, 
I examined with some curiosity the things Ned 
had taken from the Professor’s dead body. 

261 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

His note book had been a sort of diary, but 
from it several leaves had been torn, as if he 
had recorded events which he afterward feared 
might compromise him, and had thus destroyed 
their written evidence. From what remained I 
gathered that the man was no ‘‘professor” at all, 
but a wandering adventurer attracted to Egypt 
by the recent valuable discoveries there. Falling 
in with Lovelace, he had hired his services to 
that savant to assist his search, and from scat- 
tered notations in the book I formed the shrewd 
conclusion that the fellow had never possessed 
the shadow of a claim to Lovelace’s discovery. 
Abdul Hashim had read his character fairly well, 
and it seemed that Van Dorn had played a des- 
perate and murderous game to win the treasure 
for himself and rob, incidentally, the real dis- 
coverer and any others who might lay claim to 
a portion of the buried wealth. 

Turning from the note book, I cut the stitches 
of the goatskin cover of the parcel which Van 
Dorn had so cleverly concealed in the lining of 
his coat, and proceeded to break the seals, which 
I observed bore the monogram “J. L.,” 

262 


sur- 


Lovelace Pasha 


mounted by a winged sphinx. This was not 
Van Dorn's seal, but that of Lovelace Pasha, 
and I judged that after the owner had sewn and 
sealed the packet it had in some way come into 
the possession of Van Dorn, who had never yet 
ventured to open it. 

At this time all of those most interested were 
gathered with me in the Captain's room: Uncle 
Naboth, Ned, Archie and Joe, as well as my 
father. When I removed the covering a small 
locket dropped out, and this I opened to glance 
at a sweet, womanly face that met my gaze. 

Over my shoulder came a sob and a cry and 
Joe seized the locket from my hands. 

‘‘My mother!" he said, softly, as he devoured 
the miniature with eager, loving eyes. 

We looked at the boy in astonishment. 

“Your mother, Joe?" I questioned, stupidly. 

He swiftly drew from beneath his clothing 
the slender chain which I had often observed he 
wore around his neck, and showed us a similar 
locket attached to it. Opening this with trem- 
bling fingers, the boy laid the lockets side by 
^263 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

side, and we saw that the portraits were nearly 
identical. 

‘‘Father and I each had one/’ he said, in an 
awed whisper; “mother has often told me that.” 

“Did you ever know what became of your 
father, Joe?” I inquired. 

“No; he went away when I was a baby, and 
we never heard of him again. For that reason 
mother was sure he was dead, for she said he 
loved her. and would not otherwise have de- 
serted her.” 

“Then,” said I, softly, “you are about to dis- 
cover your father, Joe; for the man who wrote 
this and owned the locket could be none other.” 

“Wrote what?” asked Uncle Naboth. 

I had been hastily examining a flat book which 
accompanied the locket. It had leaves of coarse 
paper closely covered with writing in a fine, 
scholarly hand. 

“Here is a manuscript which I believe I will 
read aloud,” said 1. “It may be interesting to 
us, in view of our recent adventure, and I am 
sure it will tell Joe something about his father.” 

As I spoke I turned over the pages to the end, 
264 


Lovelace Pasha 


and Uncle Naboth, peering over my shoulder, 
exclaimed : 

‘^Why, it’s signed by John Lovelace. That 
must be the same Lovelace Pasha who discovered 
the treasure.” 

“He was not a Pasha,” I returned, “although 
he was called so. He was not even entitled to 
the name of Lovelace, for here he tells us who 
he really was — John Herring.” 

Joe was staring intently, first at the lockets 
and then at me. His face was pale and his dark 
eyes glowed with nervous excitement. 

“Sit down, uncle,” I said, “and let me read 
what is here written.” 

All now assumed attentive attitudes while I 
proceeded to read as follows : 

“ ‘This shall be, to any who reads it after my 
death, my last testament and my final behest. 
For some weeks I, John Herring, have feared 
treachery and sudden death, although I cannot 
discover from what direction the danger threat- 
ens. So I am determined to explain herein my 
position in Egypt, for, being reserved by nature, 
I know that at present I am a mystery to all with 
265 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

whom I have come into contact in this ancient 
and romantic land. 

“ ‘I am an American, a native of Galveston, 
and a graduate of Harvard. Soon after I left 
college my father, who was reputed a wealthy 
man, died without estate, and I was thrown upon 
my own resources. Being little fitted for a busi- 
ness career I gained scant success, except that I 
took a wife to share my poverty — a gentle na- 
tured woman who gave me devotion and love 
but was unable to further my fortunes because 
her nature was weaker than my own. 

“ 1 was led into an illegitimate venture by 
a friend named Jose Marrow, an enterprising 
Mexican who owned a sloop and proposed that 
I join him in smuggling laces and cigars from 
Mexico into the United States. We succeeded 
for a time and I made considerable money. But 
at length I was discovered, as was inevitable, and 
only saved myself from imprisonment by sudden 
escape. Marrow managed to get me aboard a 
vessel bound for Gibraltar and I was obliged to 
leave my wife and baby boy without the comfort 
of a farewell, although I sent them all the money 
266 


Lovelace Pasha 


I had and my friend Marrow promised to see 
they were provided for in case I was unable to 
send them more before it was gone. But I thank 
God I have been able to supply their wants, and 
each year I have sent a substantial remittance to 
them through Marrow, who by good fortune was 
never suspected of being implicated in the smug- 
gling.^ ’’ 

''But we never got a dollar !’’ broke in Joe, 
indignantly. "Old Marrow must have kept 
every penny of the money.’' 

Without replying to this I continued to read: 

" 'Twelve years ago I made my way to Egypt, 
and having been a student of Egyptology in my 
college days, I became much interested in the 
excavations being made to secure ancient relics. 
Soon I was myself successfully engaged in this 
search, and I have had the good fortune to dis- 
cover several important tombs of the Twenty- 
fourth Dynasty. 

" 'This success finally led to my undertaking 
a queer and seemingly impossible search — for the 
treasure hidden by the High Priest Amana of 
Karnak at the time of Cambyses’ invasion. I 
267 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

conceived the idea that the treasure had been 
buried in the sands of the desert, instead of in 
the Sacred Lake, according to popular tradition. 
For several years I searched the desert around 
Karnak without result, and just as I was begin- 
ning to despair I came upon an inscription graven 
upon an angle of the ruined walls of the temple 
of Seti, which described — ^although not accu- 
rately — the place where the treasure had been 
hidden. 

“ ‘I must explain that this treasure of Karnak 
is mainly a library of papyri recounting the his- 
tory of the Egyptians during the period between 
the Sixth and Twelfth Dynasties. As no other 
records of this period exist our historians have 
been in the dark concerning this broad epoch, 
although we know from inscriptions found at 
Abydos and Edfu that the papyrus rolls hidden 
by the priest of Karnak gave a full account of 
that portion of Egyptian history which we have 
hitherto been unable to account for. So the dis- 
covery of this library means fame and riches to 
one fortunate enough to find it, and it is sup- 
posed that a store of gold and precious jewels 


Lovelace Pasha 


was buried by the priests at the same time, which 
should further enrich the discoverer. 

‘‘ ‘I have an explorer's and excavator's license 
granted me by the Khedive under the name of 
John Lovelace, which name I assumed on coming 
to Egypt, although, as I have said, my real name 
is John Herring. It was necessary to cover my 
identity in this way to avoid extradition in case 
the American customs officers discovered my re- 
treat. But my crime was not an important one 
and I believe it has long since been forgotten. 

‘‘ ‘The finding of the Karnak treasure is now 
merely a question of time, since I know by the 
secret inscription where to search for it. But I 
found that I needed help, and engaged a man 
named Van Dorn, who has at one time been a 
foreman at the workings of the Italian excava- 
tors in the Tombs of the Kings at Thebes, to 
assist me. He has now been with me nearly 
three years, receiving 400 piasters a month, which 
is equal to about 20 American dollars. He is a 
faithful worker, but has a covetous and dishonest 
mind, so that I suspect he will not be trustworthy 
in case I discover the treasure. Unfortunately 
26^ 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

I have been obliged to intrust him with knowl- 
edge nearly equal to my own, and the misgivings 
I have expressed at the beginning of this testa- 
ment are mostly due to this man’s connection 
with my search. I fear the day when the treas- 
ure is at last unearthed. 

‘‘ ‘Besides Peter Van Dorn, who is to receive 
one thousand dollars, in addition to his wage, if 
the treasure is found, I have employed members 
of an Arab desert tribe led by one Abdul Has- 
him, which inhabits a village near Tel-Ambra. 
For his services the sheik Abdul Hashim is also 
to receive one thousand dollars when I find the 
treasure, but nothing if I am unsuccessful. My 
contract with the sheik, to be exact, is for 200 
pounds Egyptian. My permit from the Khedive 
obliges me to sell the papyri to the Cairo Museum 
for a sum not less than the total of my expenses 
during the search for them, and should there be 
other treasure of gold or jewels, one-half belongs 
to the Khedive and the other half to me. This 
I write plainly to explain all just claims against 
the treasure, should I succeed in finding it,’ ” 

270 


Lovelace Pasha 


Here the writing halted, but under date of 
January ii, 190 — , it continued as follows: 

‘‘ ‘At last the search for the treasure of Kar- 
nak has been successful. Last night Van Dorn 
and I located a granite slab in which are set three 
bronze rings — evidence indisputable that here lies 
the wealth hidden centuries ago to escape the 
rapacity of Cambyses. To-night we are to take 
two Arabs of Abdul Hashim’s tribe to assist 
us in lifting the slab, which Van Dorn and I 
were unable to do alone. I am eager to see what 
•lies beneath it. Van Dorn has been acting more 
suspiciously than ever this morning, and is in a 
state of wild excitement. Perhaps that is natural, 
and I do not see how he can rob me of either 
the honor of the discovery or of the treasure 
itself; but I shall watch him closely. 

“ ‘Some months ago I wrote to Jose Marrow, 
my friend in Galveston, who now commands a 
trading ship, stating that I expected shortly to 
find a large treasure, and that if I succeeded I 
would send all of my share to him to be applied 
to the education and advancement in life of my 
son, who is now nearly fifteen years of age. 

271 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Marrow has written me that my wife is ill and 
needs more money than I have sent; but I am 
now sure of being able to provide generously for 
my family. 

‘‘ 'If anything happens to me to prevent my 
carrying out this plan, I implore whoever may 
come into possession of this writing as a matter 
of simple humanity and justice to fulfill my 
wishes and send my share of the proceeds of the 
treasure to Capt. Jose Marrow, at Galveston, 
Texas, U. S. A., to be applied by him for the sole 
welfare of my wife and son. And I ask his 
Gracious Highness, the Khedive, if by chance 
this should come to his notice, to order my estate 
disposed of as I have said above. 

" T shall seal and otherwise protect this manu- 
script from prying eyes, and it may be that my 
fears are fanciful and unfounded, and that I 
shall myself have the delight of enriching my 
dear ones in person. I wish nothing for myself. 
The honor to my name as the discoverer of the 
historic papyri of Karnak will be a sufficient 
reward. 

" ' John Lovelace.’ ” 
272 


Lovelace Pasha 


*^Humph!’’ said Uncle Naboth; ‘‘is that all?” 

“That is all, sir,” I answered, closing the book. 
“But it explains a lot that we did not know, and 
transfers the ownership of the treasure from us 
to Joe.” 

They all sat thoughtfully considering this for 
a time. Then Joe said: 

“I may have a sort of claim to my father’s 
share, although that is not quite clear. But the 
half that was to go to the Khedive you people 
are now fully entitled to.” 

“That’s a sure thing,” observed Archie, whose 
keen Yankee wit had grasped the situation 
quicker than mine did. “But let’s consider an- 
other thing, my friends. We agreed long ago 
that the hidden treasure of those old priests 
belonged by right to whoever was lucky enough 
to grab it. It isn’t the Khedive’s, and never has 
been. Lovelace — or Joe’s father — may have 
made a deal with the Khedive to insure his own 
safety, but Lovelace did nothing more than to 
locate the place where the treasure lay. He 
never got his fists on it. Neither did Abdul 
Hashim, nor Van Dorn, nor old Gege-Merak, 

273 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

although any one of 'em would have seized it if 
he could and held on to it like grim death to a 
grasshopper. The fact is, we got possession of 
the treasure ourselves, at considerable risk, and 
it belongs to us except for the liens Joe’s father 
had on it. In my opinion we needn’t consider 
the Khedive any more than the Shah of Persia 
or any other hungry shark.” 

‘‘You’re right,” said Uncle Naboth. “We’ll 
keep half an’ give Joe half. That’s fair, I guess.” 

“But first,” said I, “let’s get safely away from 
Egypt,” and I left them and went on deck to find 
we had just sighted Suez. 


274 


CHAPTER XX. 


THE KHEDIVE TAKES THE LAST TRICK BUT ONE. 

We reached Port Said without interruption at 
five o’clock on a gloomy afternoon, and my father 
managed to get his papers signed so he could 
clear the port an hour later. 

We had used our steam to make the journey 
through the Canal, and so we determined to 
steam for the next twelve hours, at least, in order 
to show our heel to Egypt as soon as possible. 

Heading slowly down the harbor we were sur- 
prised at being hailed by a small government 
launch flying the Egyptian flag, which pressed 
close to our side, while an officer in uniform stood 
up and gesticulated wildly toward us. 

‘‘What’s wanted?” asked Captain Steele, lean- 
ing over the rail. 

“Stop ! Wait !” cried the fat officer, brokenly. 
“I must come on board.” 


m 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

“Hike along, then,” called my father, but made 
no signal to stop the engines. 

We were moving very slowly, for we had 
to steer clear of the numerous craft anchored 
in the harbor, so the launch grappled our side 
and Ned let down a ladder which the official 
clutched and swarmed overboard with surpris- 
ing agility. 

“Stop! Go back!” he shouted, as soon as 
-he reached the deck. “This ship is the ship 
Seagull; it is arrest — you are all arrest!” 

“What for?” demanded the Captain. 

“I have instruction from his Excellency the 
Minister of Finance to stop you. You must 
not leave Egypt, he say. You have treasure 
on board — treasure contraband to the Egyptian 
Government.” 

We stared at one another aghast. How in 
the world had this information come to the ears 
of the government? and what should we do — 
what could we do — in this emergency? Arrest 
and confiscation first, and a legal battle to 
follow! We shuddered even to contemplate 
such a difficulty. 


276 


The Last Trick — But One 


“Crowd on full steam, Tomlinson,” said Cap- 
tain Steele to the Chief Engineer, who stood 
beside him. The man saluted with a smile and 
retired to obey. 

“As for you,” continued my father, turning to 
the officer, “I advise you to get back to your boat 
in double quick time. We’ve got our papers, in 
reg’lar fashion, and we’re free American citizens. 
You can’t arrest us a single minute — you or 
your whole blamed Egyptian outfit.” 

“But I command! You are under my arrest! 
You are criminal!” screamed the fat man, stub- 
bornly. “In the name of ” 

“In the name of Sam Hill, throw the cuss over- 
board !” roared the Captain, losing all patience. 

To my horror Ned promptly obeyed and the 
pompous official tumbled over the rail head first 
and disappeared with a splash in the water below. 

Those in the launch shouted excitedly and let 
go our side to rescue their superior. He bobbed 
up a minute later and they grabbed him with a 
boat-hook and drew him, dripping and gasping, 
aboard their boat. 

But it was too late for them to board us again. 

277 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Our propeller was by this time whirling rapidly 
and churning the water into a creamy streak in 
our wake. Slowly we drew away from the 
government boat, which puffed after us at its best 
gait, the inmates shaking their fists at us threat- 
eningly but in vain. Presently we lost sight of 
them altogether in the gloom, for twilight was 
fast falling. 

Out into the blue waters of the great Medi- 
terranean we sped and I for one greeted the ex- 
panse gratefully. We had narrowly escaped a 
serious disaster, for if the Khedive had once 
gripped our hard-won treasure we should never 
have set eyes on it again. Also we might have 
found ourselves and our ship hopelessly compro- 
mised in the meshes of Egyptian law. 

We headed for the southwest point of the 
island of Sicily, for we dared not undertake to 
pass the straits of Messina. This way would 
also bring us sooner to Gibraltar, and we deter- 
mined to head our course between Tunis and Sic- 
ily, out of the beaten path of ships, and to keep 
away from any port until we were afloat on the 
broad Atlantic. 


278 


The Last Trick — But One 

All night our engines throbbed powerfully and 
we sped swiftly on our course. By morning we 
began to feel we were out of danger, and at 
breakfast I decided that during the forenoon we 
would open the canvas sacks and take a good look 
at our treasure. But while we still sat at table 
the mate came down with a grave face to report 
that a man-o’-war had just been sighted and was 
bearing down on us. 

We rushed eagerly on deck to inspect the boat 
through our glasses and made her out easily 
enough. She was a. big armored cruiser, heavily 
armed, and seemed intent on heading us off. 

‘‘But we may be more scared than hurt,” re- 
marked my father, calmly. “All nations have 
men-o’-war in these waters, and it ain’t a bit 
strange we should run across one. Like as not 
she won’t mind us at all.” 

“But the course she’s headed won’t take her to 
any port in creation,” observed Ned, shaking his 
head dolefully. “She’s after the Seagull, sure 
enough.” 

It really looked that way, and we stood with 
bated breath and watched the huge hulk come on. 

279 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

It would be folly to try to run away ; still we did 
not pause an instant. 

In an hour she was less than a mile to leeward, 
and soon we saw a puff of smoke followed by a 
shot that flew singing across our bow. At the 
same time she hoisted her flag peak and Ned took 
a look at it through his glass. 

‘‘Egypt,” he said, laconically, and my heart 
sank like a chunk of lead. 

“The jig’s up, fellows,” I said, mournfully. 
“Joe, my lad, you’ve been rich for nearly a whole 
day. To-night you’ll be a pauper again.” 

Joe grinned, but not with a pleasant expres- 
sion, and turned away to vanish below deck. I 
was really sorry for the poor chap — and sorry 
for ourselves, too. 

“Never mind,” said Archie, consolingly; 
“we’ve had a lot of fun, anyhow. The Khedive 
can’t rob us of that.” 

As Captain Steele hesitated to obey the first 
shot a second one quickly followed, and this came 
so near to piercing the hull of his beloved Seagull 
that my father uttered a gruff explanation and 
ordered Ned to lay to. The engines were stopped 
280 


The Last Trick — But One 

and slowly we lost way and floated quietly upon 
the sea, which was smooth as a mill-pond. The 
sky was overcast with a mantle of solid gray and 
not a breath of wind was stirring. 

Had we not been so preoccupied with other 
matters I am sure we would ere this have been 
speculating on the queer atmospheric conditions 
that prevailed, and wondering what they might 
portend. 

The cruiser slowed up near by and lowered a 
gig, which was speedily manned. Then, being 
rowed with admirable precision, it shot across 
the space which separated us and came alongside. 
We threw out a boarding ladder and two offi- 
cers climbed it and a minute later stood upon 
our deck, where they inquired courteously for 
the Captain. They were fine-looking fellows, 
middle-aged and with an air of breeding. Their 
duty, whatever it might be, would doubtless be 
performed in a gentlemanly manner. 

My father advanced to announce that he com- 
manded the Seagull and would be glad to know 
by what authority he was arrested on the high 
seas. 

281 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

Said the elder of the two: “You resisted an 
officer of the Egyptian government in the har- 
bor of Port Said, and escaped. We consider 
you still our prisoner, although you have fled 
into neutral waters.” 

“My papers are regular, sir, and you have 
no right to arrest me or to fire upon my ship,” 
returned my father, boldly. “If you persist in 
your illegal and high-handed course, sir, you will 
make this an international affair,” he added. 

“There is little danger of that, Captain Steele,” 
answered the officer, with a smile. “It may be 
we have exceeded our authority in arresting 
you here ; but kindly permit me to state our case. 
In Egypt you dug up a treasure — an important 
treasure — which you are now carrying away in 
defiance of our laws. We should not have per- 
mitted your ship to clear our port, I admit, but 
unfortunately we did not receive the news of 
your misdemeanor in time to prevent by force 
^our escape. However, we do not intend to 
be robbed. Our instructions from the Minister 
of War at Cairo are positive. We are told to 
recover the treaaure or send your ship to the 
282 


The Last Trick — But One 


bottom of the sea — or to do both, at our discre- 
tion. The matter of legality we will not discuss. 
We have the power to take this treasure if you 
refuse to give it up cheerfully, and I assure you 
we will do so. That is all. I await your deci- 
sion, Captain.'' 

Well, there was nothing for us to do but give 
up the treasure. If we tried to withhold it we 
would lose both the treasure and the Seagull. 
We held a short conference, however. Uncle 
Naboth, Ned and Archie being present besides 
my father and myself. Joe was also an inter- 
ested partner, but was not on deck and we had 
no time to hunt him up. 

We decided there was but one way out of our 
difficulty. The American government would 
scarcely support us in a claim for damages, under 
such peculiar circumstances; and this the clever 
Turks knew as well as we did. 

The thing that most amazed us was the accu- 
racy of their information, and we wondered who 
could have revealed to the government the fact 
that we had secured the treasure. Abdul Hashim 
was dead, but some of his tribe might have 
283 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

learned our secret and reported it to the authori- 
ties in order to obtain vengeance for their shiek's 
death. Or the villagers of Laketa, who had seen 
the treasure in Gege-Merak’s possession, might 
have disclosed the information. We did not 
suspect Ketti for a moment. 

Anyway, the mischief was out and it only 
remained for us to give up the treasure and 
make our way homeward somewhat the poorer 
for our unsuccessful enterprise. 

‘Tardon me, gentlemen, if I ask you to make 
haste,’’ said one of the Turkish officers, stepping 
to our side. ‘The simoon is threatening both 
our ships, so we are anxious to finish our errand 
and be gone.” 

Indeed, the day had grown suddenly darker 
and the sea sighed audibly, although it was per- 
fectly still. My father looked anxiously at his 
bare rigging and hurried away to give an order 
for additional security. Ned followed him, and 
Uncle Naboth turned to me and said, with almost 
a groan : 

“Give ’em the treasure, Sam, an’ let’s be done 
with the blamed Egyptians forever,” 

284 


The Last Trick — But One 


I bowed to the officer. 

‘If you will come below you shall have it,” I 
said; “but you’d better get a couple of your 
men to help carry it.” 

He went to the side and shouted an order, 
and two of the men from the gig sprang on 
deck. I took them to my stateroom, threw open 
the lid of the great chest and said : 

“There, gentlemen, is the entire treasure, 
including the rolls of papyrus. If you doubt 
that it is all here, you are welcome to search 
the ship.” 

They lugged it all away and I sighed to think 
we had never obtained so much as one good 
view of the plunder we had been at so much 
pains to gain. The canvas sacks still bore the 
original seals which Van Dorn had placed upon 
them in the desert beside the pit. 

When the last sack was in the boat they did 
delay to search the ship, to my extreme disgust. 
But their search was hasty and perfunctory, and 
after visiting the other cabins and peering into 
the forecastle and galley — as if we would keep 
treasure hidden in such places ! — they finally got 

285 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

into the gig to return to their ship. I demanded 
a receipt, but they refused to give one, mum- 
bling that the threatening simoon was likely to 
strike us any minute. 

And then they cast off and rowed away toward 
their own vessel, making such speed as they 
could; but unfortunately they had delayed too 
long. The simoon struck us like a blow and 
the Seagull keeled over at a dangerous angle 
and trembled through every beam. 

As I clung desperately to the rail my eyes 
followed the Turkish gig, and I saw its prow 
rise from the water as the whirling cloud of 
mingled wind and sand caught it, and dump its 
occupants — officers, men and all — into the now 
seething flood. Yes, the treasure went, too — 
the priceless historic papyri, the golden orna- 
ments and splendid jewels of the great priests 
of Karnak — all, all were swallowed up by the 
waters and vanished forever from the sight of 
men! 

The wrecked gig was only a mass of splinters. 
They shot life-lines from the deck of the cruiser 
and these were clutched by those of the boat's 
286 


The Last Trick — But One 


crew who rose again to the surface. But I can- 
not say how many of those ill-fated Turks were 
finally rescued. For we had our own ship’s 
safety to look after, and when the dreadful 
simoon had subsided, which it did as suddenly 
as it had appeared, but after several hours of 
terror, the Khedive’s man-o’-war was but a dim 
speck upon the horizon, and soon we had lost 
sight of her altogether. 

When’ the strain being at last over, we met 
together in the main cabin for supper, it was 
a dismal enough lot of faces that surrounded 
the table. Except Joe. Joe did not seem dis- 
mal at all. He smiled upon us most cheerfully, 
until we all hated the boy for his good nature 
under such trying circumstances. 

No one, however, cared to mention our great 
loss — which was in everyone’s mind — except 
Archie, who growled out : 

‘‘Why in thunder couldn’t the simoon have 
arrived an hour or so earlier, before we were 
robbed ?” 

But we chose not to heed the wail. Fate has 
her own way of ordaining things. 

287 


The Last Trick — But One 


I rose abruptly and passed into my cabin, and 
to my surprise Joe followed. As he lighted my 
lamp and turned up the wick so that it illumined 
the room brightly, I heard him whistling softly 
to himself. 

The boy annoyed me, and I turned upon him 
rather savagely. 

"‘You seem quite content to have lost your 
inheritance,” said I; ‘‘but the rest of us are 
not so well satisfied. Can’t you try to respect 
our feelings?” 

He grinned at me most provokingly. 

“Strikes me we’ve got something yet to be 
thankful for, sir,” he replied. “The Turks didn’t 
bag so much treasure as they thought they did.” 

I stared at him with sudden interest. 

“What do you mean, Joe?” 

He stepped to my bunk and drew back the 
curtains. Then he threw aside the blanket and 
disclosed the berth heaped full with glittering 
jewels and golden ornaments that sparkled 
brightly under the clear rays of the lamp. 

My cry brought the others running hastily 
into the room, but as their gaze followed my 
288 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

own and fell upon the mass of treasure they 
stood mute and still, filled with a wonder that 
fairly dulled their senses. 

At last Uncle Naboth tumbled into a chair 
and began mopping his forehead with his red 
silk handkerchief, and I awoke far enough to 
ask, in an awed whisper: 

“How did it happen, Joe?” 

“Why, it was dead easy, Sam,” he replied 
with a laugh. “As soon as that infernal gun- 
boat fired at us I knew something had to be done 
to save the treasure. So I ran down here and 
ripped open the seams at the bottom of all those 
canvas sacks, and dumped about three-quarters 
of the contents of each one of ’em into your 
berth. I left some of the stuff in the ends of 
the sacks that were tied and sealed, so if the 
Egyptians opened any of ’em they’d think they 
were still loaded all the way down with jewelry. 
Then I had to fill up the spaces, and that was 
harder than you’d think. I first chucked in all 
the old bits of iron and brass I could find in 
the junk-chest; but that wasn’t near enough. 
So I ran to the galley and got Bry to give me 


The Last Trick — But One 


a lot of potatoes and a bag of beans. With 
these I filled up the treasure sacks and then 
sewed up all the seams again. It took some time 
to do this, and the only way I could hide the 
treasure was to cover it up with this blanket 
and draw the curtains. Mebbe I wasn’t scared 
stiff when the officers came down here! But 
they never thought to search the bunk in this 
cabin, though they went through all the others. 
I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t empty the bags entirely, 
for they never opened any of ’em ; but I thought 
it was best not to take too many chances, and 
I guess we’ve ^aved about two-thirds of all the 
treasure we brought from the desert — except, 
of course, the rolls of writing, and those we 
didn’t care so much for, anyhow.” 

By the time the boy had finished this speech 
he was the focus of all our admiring eyes. 

“Don’t worry about what’s lost, Joe,” said 
Uncle Naboth, earnestly. “There’s enough left 
to make us all rich; an’ we owe it to your 
pluck and wit — an’ to nothin’ else.” 

“Three cheers for Joe!” yelled Archie, joy- 
ously. 


290 


The Boy Fortune Hunters 

‘Tshaw!” said Joe, flushing red, “what else 
was there to do?'' 

Three weeks after we anchored safely in Bos- 
ton harbor, and before many days had passed 
Uncle Naboth's prediction was amply fulfilled. 
The proceeds of the treasure made us all, in 
our humble stations, “rich," and Joe's share, 
being so much the largest, made him very rich 
indeed. 

THE END. 


291 




v** I * if '.x-v • 



* . • I 








\ 

■ J * 


-J ' ’ ' V^' > A'* ' '•‘Is V v- ^'’' ‘ 


• *\ 


r 


•. A 


I - 


{/ 


4 " 


- ' » 





' ♦' 


• f' 


{ • 
• fe* 

t 

i» ' 

) . 


• • If 

« 




r 1 


: s« -v 


’ K • 




t 


I •> 




r\ 




;• i ^ 




«d 

' •! 




^ ' V V 


Jf 


^ . \'"V'X ^ r , 
^.'•■Zi-v’^'w ^ 'i-,. ■• 


'-V ■''^’ ' 

.V 7 * 


' 4 




'<f,< 


■ 'r 



i. 


”•-/' * ' ' ' 


•^•. ; .7. iSSSf. ' : ' • 

’■jAl' • '<:'tJir;."/‘ 




: ,:;v' 


' / 


Vk . 




*■'' •• ■■ ■ ' • Ar:k ; '■•'■■^ ■■'I ‘ . '■ 


■ \.,V . 





\kK 



' / 


'■ / 


J- 


W. 


*. *y .■ 




'^;-v 

,m^ • 


I 


r . •*• _. V 


•‘/tr ■' . ; 


: '1 • 



V|' 

' r i^U' •'V-- ' 

r' » . 




• » % 




9 m" ■ : \. J * ■' 

LjTSff*!??' »•'*'. r-w 7 .> I 


'f'- 



I* ^ 

* • ♦ 


• • 
4p 


• i 


/• V 

^ 1 


»• t 


. •# . 

■ : * . T t 


4 


/■ 


•V ■ 

n 




l 4 • 




larJiiS!* • . • \Jj i'^ 

V ;■ V. 



•^* *.a 

» f *« 

- ‘m 


>♦. 


■*'' ' , ' V ' ■ 

i - < ' ■ I ' f • ' V* ^ \‘ ■ 

S' i ».' • ‘ • s -1 ' ^ ; *fcl 

'■* / 4 ^ . ..' ?l } - 

^ '’'Ck 

V . .. »,' •_ 

^1_ *<• *• 



Jg:- A»,! v-Vf/ j ’ fWreaBMy^ 

(A- > • w, . _ \ifJC*ATO\ - 


'M /jy* H 

■ ■■: .i» 

rstJisit 


•4 


I 

< ' 


• / 

• • 

« 

*1 

k 

*• 

•• 

s 

1, 

' s 

. 

« « 

’’ 1 ■ 

* > 

' 'V ’ 

« 

• 

tt 

• • 

r4.‘ 


r 

■; -■* 

^ « 

■- 

' 

• 

* « 

t 


' V'. 






•‘ i« ♦ ^ 


‘^ ' i' * 



’ ■ ^ -VJ^^ ' ' • ■-.- V « •■ ■ S«aS}® 3 ^^' 1 PK ; 

■■/V ®5mASfci3^ * 

■Bdnwafiw/ wiiiutiinK^aiilri '* .<^2.j J- i.*>/ 




m-, 






The Girl Graduate; Her Own Book 

A NOVELTY EVERY GIRL WANTS 

In which to keep the happy record of her last 
year in school or college — a book she will keep and 
prize always. 

There is a place for 
everything dear to the girl 
graduate’s heart and mem- 
ory — class flower, color, 
yell, motto, photographs, 
jokes and frolics. 

Departments for social 
events, officers, teachers, 
invitations, baccalaureate 
sermon, programmes, pres- 
ents, press notices, class 
prophecy and other “do- 
ings.” 

The Girl Graduate is 
equally appropriate for 
young misses leaving grade 
and high schools and their 
older sisters who have ‘‘finished” at college or board- 
ing school. It makes a suitable present at any sea- 
son of the year. 

NINTH EDITION. Revised and improved 

Dainty designs in delicate colorings on pearl gray stationery. 
Cover to match, with a trellis of roses in tints and decorations in gold. 

Decorated on Every Page. 

8vo. 200 pages. Each book put up in an attractive gray box. 

Price ^1.50. Full leather, gold edges, De Luxe edition. Price II3.00 






'K* » 


a ’’-s* 

Sv-.'SH-'l-vi '■ '■•■' 


t;»av 


^■,.v ■ ■' ' ■ . ' 


'«Vi9LSKv :• •i 'VJ 

7. V'Vvk't >’ -’ 

!Bitif'’’-' • ^ ' ^^•^•*■*'•. VO*’ 


a 


■ ' v'‘- - '-SR 


'V ..7> 



/ . > 


il, 



^’ 1 


'a ^ 


I 


< ‘ 

J » , 


.V 


^S’- • »s , .jSwHtBBjfli'vji vtf ' *' ••'•> ■ :' > . • • ■.? . . 




< ~ 


«» 


, *\ 


vr ;...■; .V.,.^‘: -;;'x..,,., 1 ^. 


■ I' •• ■‘‘/ ^ > 




,'■■ . 


.K><Vi i Vv^ ' • '■'■ >- ' ■i^ ■?"" ' 






r . 



'7'^-'^.; .M'vxv ? ’• ■' 

^:'jT '•‘'ji" • ' '. / V •*^■'^ ^319! 

ifV'i'.' .•■.'W ‘■■' H'?/ • V^i'V Wi^faF™ 


\ • 


'< \ 

1 


t 

k 






»' •.«' 




:7^ 


r'Hte 


I 


.\ ?*' 


t. 




IWA*', •■',/.-'f'-';i:«y''C^> . - ■■ .■ .: :. .^■}^ 

yi'*'’' •', >j-:j'fr , '.V.-' ;;’\> 


-T^i; 




W?, 


j j 




: i'\: ■ ,. ?: 

I:'?: V 'V'. ': ' Vv 
, ■'^,. ' ■•;>^’ - ■ ,'^ 



:r 

Iv 


y 
\ . 


'« /:V 


^ -<• .\i t * 

■ . ,V<1 


'• V 




m 


, 


i' > f ' 


. ». ‘ v‘ 


• ^ 

P< 


■■v 

•/• :-r' .. >' 


'■'T^ 


’, y i,‘c ’.I', .'v ^ 

* w 1^ J l \ . ^ 


,.V# 

'I 


11 ', •,’V . • 'a » 


/J’ * .■• /I. r ♦( 


/ 1 


it .; . v; . 


fv -Ti 


t 


, c 







. *• .V ." ^' •. •' ' 




i t ' 

V ' • » 1 • 

'i iVs'^ •■.:‘^ *^ '< -’ 


:M^‘i{f’.:, '■■ Z', ''•“/' ''Aw 

nx& i ■■ ■ A • ' - ii‘ 




‘u 


'j»V VlF. • 



'r- 



'I / 


t 

. V 


I 

< ■^^^ 


•»'•»■* i» I#’ ’»^ 








1 .- 44 * / '’•'. 

M.f,*; / 




L , 




!,< ■■ '■ 


AiM 


' 1 ’ 







• (, 




i ■ 


1 '•. V .,• 

*'• .-fj // 5 y 

• • 'M 


. f 


?rv:,;V:':’.;.A' . 

,v. • , 

■ .' A ■; . r*,‘ 


tf 


■: 7 . 

.^•;iV-.. ■ ■‘iV. • ■ '‘•■Bri'^V.-'S. 




, ','■' ■ - y^ • ■ ■'- Sjra# 




• I 


. f 


. > 



.'■ r 


i. 


k A 


u* 





Si'*' 

\ • 

* 1 


< ■ % 

>• 'l 

t 




•> 





> ' ,s - ' 

t 








7* 






. k 


|j>y 






- 2 . ’•' •; '»■■? iV 

‘''-^’Vjin i '. iV*i 






: . -f '.’V^A.'f', 


.♦ > 



t < 




<.1 




,J 



* . ' ■ ' •’■ ; 

’', ■ V 

‘ - 

'■ ■ \'V 4 

I' f ; 4 i 

P 

vvi »A‘i rv,.y 

- . 

1 ‘ *' U .> ■Jm.'iK ^ 


• *'ts 7 j 

7 .„‘Vi:,^,i)i.v,-l 






, » •’» >' 




^ 7 % 




■-•'v'.'t 


., *► 




» _ 'Vir* 


I ' I 


• CM 




>' •' ■ ’ 











I 


[ 













